Crawford v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided December 4, 2024·No. 21-1896V·Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1896V

ANN PETREA CRAWFORD, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: October 29, 2024 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

James H. Cook, Jsc Legal, Cedar Falls, IA, for Petitioner.

Michael Joseph Lang, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

On September 23, 2021, Ann Petrea Crawford 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”) following an influenza vaccine she received on October 2, 2019. Petition at ¶ 1; Stipulation, filed at October 28, 2024, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she has suffered the residual effects of her vaccine-related injury for more than six months. Petition at ¶ 12; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that either or both flu vaccines caused or significantly aggravated Petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury; and further denies that either or flu vaccines caused Petitioner to suffer from any other injury or her current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on October 28, 2024, 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.

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made

publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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. 2 National 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 (2018). Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following compensation:

A lump sum of $25,000.00 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.

2 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

ANN PETREA CRAWFORD, No. 21-1896V Petitioner, Chief Special Master Corcoran ECF V.

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Petitioner, Ann Petrea Crawford, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to -34 (the "Vaccine

Program"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt

of the influenza ("flu") vaccine, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"),

42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

2. Petitioner received a flu vaccine on September 26, 2018, and another flu vaccine on

October 2, 2019.

3. The vaccines were administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine

administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table. Petitioner fmiher

alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this condition 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 either

or both flu vaccines caused or significantly aggravated petitioner's alleged shoulder injury; and

further denies that either or both flu vaccines caused petitioner to suffer from any other injury or

her current condition.

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 practicab1e after an ent1y of judgment reflecting a decision consistent

with the tenns of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive

compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human

Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $25,000.00 in the fonn 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-21(a)(l), and an application, the paiiies 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 compensation to be provided pursuant to

this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can reasonably be

expected to be made under any State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or

2 State health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

§ 1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

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.

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Related

§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)
§ 300aa-21
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(l)
§ 300aa-l
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a