Stine v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
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TERESA STINE, *
* No. 17-1389V
Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran
*
v. * Filed: January 28, 2020
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; influenza (“flu”) vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * SIRVA; shoulder injury.
*
Respondent. *
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Brian L. Cinelli, Marcus & Cinelli, LLP, Williamsville, NY, for Petitioner;
Mallori B. Openchowski, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.
UNPUBLISHED DECISION1
On January 28, 2020, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by Teresa Stine on September 29, 2017. Petitioner
alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 2, 2014, which is
contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. §100.3(a), caused
her to suffer from a shoulder injury related to vaccination administration
(“SIRVA”). Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this
injury for more than six months. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her
condition.
1
The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
Respondent denies that petitioner suffered the onset of her alleged SIRVA
injury within the Table time frame; that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer
from SIRVA or any other injury; and that her current disabilities are a sequela of a
vaccine-related injury.
Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Damages awarded in that stipulation include:
A lump sum payment of $60,000.00 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).
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 17-1389V according to this decision
and the attached stipulation.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master
2
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.
2