Davis v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided July 30, 2021·No. 20-46·Unpublished

Opinion

CORRECTED

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-46V UNPUBLISHED

SHERRY DAVIS, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: June 29, 2021 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Stipulation on Damages; HUMAN SERVICES, Tetanus0Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (Tdap); Shoulder Injury Respondent. Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

On January 14, 2020, Sherry Davis 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 a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine administered on October 17, 2018. Amended Petition at 1-3; Stipulation, filed at June 29, 2021, ¶¶ 1-2. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of the SIRVA for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition. Petition at 1-3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused Petitioner to suffer a left shoulder injury, or any other injury, and denies that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Nevertheless, on June 29, 2021, 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 $20,000.00 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 the 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

) SHERRY DAVIS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 20-0046V V. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEAL TH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. )

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

1. Sherry Davis, petitioner, 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 tetanus-

diphtheria-acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine

Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on October 17, 2018.

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner alleges that she suffered from a left shoulder injury related to vaccination

administration ("SIRVA") as a result of receiving the Tdap vaccine.

5. 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.

6. Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner to suffer a left shoulder

injury, or any other injury, and denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table 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 of judgment 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-21(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

A lump sum of $20,000.00 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-2 l (a)( 1), 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 compensation to be provided l)Ursuant to

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

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l 5(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

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 of this Stipulation and any amounts awarded

pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Davis v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, (uscfc 2021).

Davis v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Davis v. Secretary of Health and Human Services) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)
§ 300aa-2
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2
§ 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