Goyne v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-0619V Filed: October 27, 2017 UNPUBLISHED

MELISSA GOYNE, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint Petitioner, Stipulation on Damages; Tetanus v. Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Axillary Nerve Injury; Shoulder Injury HUMAN SERVICES, Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Respondent.

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On May 25, 2016, 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 alleged that she suffered an axillary nerve injury in her left shoulder caused in fact by tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) and/or influenza (“flu”) vaccinations she received on November 14, 2014. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 4, 17; Stipulation, filed Oct. 27, 2017, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccinations in the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that she has never received any award or settlement for her injury alleged as vaccine caused. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 4, 19; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5.

“Respondent denies that the Tdap and/or flu immunization(s) are/is the cause of petitioner’s alleged axillary nerve injury or any other injury or condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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.

2National 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 October 27, 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.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned awards the following compensation: A lump sum of $60,000.00 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 § 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

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.