Needham v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2022 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-1169V
UNPUBLISHED
DIANNE NEEDHAM, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: June 1, 2022
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
HUMAN SERVICES, (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration
Respondent. (SIRVA)
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On September 9, 2020, Dianne Needham filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on
September 7, 2019. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed on May 31, 2022, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner
further alleges that she received the vaccine in the United States, that she experienced
the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her condition. Petition at
1-3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner sustained a SIRVA Table
injury; denies that the vaccine caused [P]etitioner’s alleged shoulder injury or any other
injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.”
Stipulation at ¶ 6.
1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic
Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact
medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from
public access.
2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
Nevertheless, on May 31, 2022, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation
reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following
compensation:
A lump sum of $55,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages
that would be available under Section 15(a). Id.
I approve the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of
a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of Court is directed to
enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
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THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
DIANNE NEEDHAM,
Petitioner,
V. No. 20-1169V
Chief Special Master Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
STIPULATION
The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:
1. Dianne Needham ("petitioner") filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the
National Vaccine lnjw-y Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to-34 (the ''Vaccine
Act"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt of an
influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the '"Table"),
42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).
2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on September 7, 2019, in her left arm.
3. The vaccine was administered within the United States.
4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a left-sided shoulder injury related to vaccine
admirustration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table, or in the ahemative, that
her alleged shoulder injury was caused by the vaccine. She further alleges that she experienced
residual effects of this alleged injury for more than six months.
5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action
for damages as a result of her condition.
6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the
vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injury or any other injury; and denies that her
current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.
7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the
issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the
compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.
8. As soon as practicable after an entry ofjudgment reflecting a decision consistent with
the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), the SecretaryofHeahh and Human Services will issue
the following vaccine compensation payment:
A lump swn of $55,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after
petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before
the special master to award reasonable attorneys ' fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this
petition.
10. Petitioner and her attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all
known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including State compensation programs, insurance policies,
Federal or State heahh benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.)), or entities that provide heahh services on a pre-paid basis.
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11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to
paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject
to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.
12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award
for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable expenses, the money provided
pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a
strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l5(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(g) and (h).
13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her
individua I capacity and on behalf of her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and/or
assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United
States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of
action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all
demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or could
be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any way growing out
of, any and all lmown or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of
petitioner resulting from. or alleged to have resulted from, the flu vaccination administered on or
about September 7, 2019, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on
September 9, 2020, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 20-1169V.
14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be voidable
upon proper notice to the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties.
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15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms
of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a
decision that is in complete confonnity with the terms of this Stipulation. then the parties'
settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.
16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and
damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except
as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the
parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated
and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and W1derstand that the award descnbed in this
Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties' respective positions as to liability and/or
amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the
items of compensation sought, is not growids to modify or revise this agreement.
17. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the
Secretary of Health and Hwnan Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged SIRVA
injury and/or any other injury, or that petitioner suffered an injury contained in the Vaccine
Injury Table.
18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's
heirs, executors, admirustrators, successors, and/or assigns.
END OF STIPULATION
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Respectfully submitted.
PETITIONER:
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ATTORNEY OF Rf:('OIU) FOR Al! TJIORIZEO REPR F:SF::'JT,\ Tl\'E
PETITIONElt: Of" Tift-: J\TTOR'.'11-:Y (;F.~ER ,\I .:
£.IAN
Muller Brazil
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715 Twinning Road. Suite 208
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Deputy Director
Torts Brnnch
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