United States Court of Federal Claims, 2017

Ritchie-Coppler v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided August 11, 2017 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1208V

Filed: February 9, 2017

UNPUBLISHED

**************************** SONDRA RITCHIE-COPPLER, *

Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Left

* Shoulder Injuries; Rotator Cuff Tear SECRETARY OF HEALTH * and Adhesive Capsulitis; Special AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Processing Unit (“SPU”)

Respondent. *

**************************** Leonard C. Herr, Jr., Herr, Pedersen & Berglund, LLP, Visalia, CA, for petitioner. Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On October 15, 2015, Sondra Ritchie-Coppler (“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 left shoulder injuries including rotator cuff tears and adhesive capsulitis as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 18, 2012. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed February 8, 2017, at ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her injuries for more than six months. Petition at 6; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged rotator cuff tears, adhesive capsulitis, or any other injury, and further denies that petitioner’s current disabilities are sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on February 8, 2017, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The 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 $349,075.00 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

1 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. 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). 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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