Chaffin v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1007V Filed: December 7, 2016 UNPUBLISHED **************************** PATRICIA CHAFFIN, * * Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Left * Shoulder Pain; Weakness; Encumbered SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Dexterity, Brachial Neuritis; Special AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Processing Unit (“SPU”) * Respondent. * * **************************** Ramon Rodriguez, III, Rawls, McNelis & Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for petitioner.

Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 11, 2015, Patricia Chaffin (“petitioner”) 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 debilitating left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity and brachial neuritis as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on September 18, 2012. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed December 7, 2016, at ¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Petition at 8-9; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu immunization is the cause of petitioner’s alleged left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity, and brachial neuritis, and/or any other injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on December 7, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.

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). undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation: A lump sum of $75,000.00, 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id. The undersigned approves 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/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

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.