Katzman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 25-879V MITCHELL L. KATZMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: May 26, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Kelly Elizabeth Elder, Martin & Jones, PLLC, Raleigh, NC, for Petitioner.

Margaret Armstrong, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 On May 23, 2025, Mitchell L. Katzman 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 he suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 15, 2022. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at May 14, 2026, ¶¶ 1, 2. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that he suffered a SIRVA within the time period set forth in the Table, that he experienced the residual effects of his condition for more than six months, and that there has been no award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a result of his injury. Petition at 1, 3-4; Stipulation at ¶¶ 1-6.

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).

On May 14, 2026, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. 3 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 $55,715.11, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

Docusign Enve[ope ID: 004E308C-CC8E-8BDE-8060-040DOEE47F60

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

)

MITCHELL L. KATZMAN, )

)

Petitioner, )

) No. 25-879V V. ) Chief SpeciaJ Master Corcoran

) ECF

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

STIPULATION

The parties hereby stipuJate to the following matters: l. Mitchell L. Katzman, 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 an influenza ("flu") vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "TabJe"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on October I 5, 2022. 1 3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner sustained a left shoulder injury related to vaccination administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table following receipt of the flu vaccine, and

Docusign Envelope ID: DD4E3O8C-CC8E-8BDE-8060-04DD0EE47F60 experienced the residual effects of a SIRVA injury for more than six months.

5. There is not a preponderance of evidence demonstrating that petitioner's injury is due to a factor unrelated to vaccination.

6. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on petitioner's behalf as a result of petitioner's condition.

7. Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act for his SIRVA Table injury. Therefore, a decision should be entered awarding the compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

8. As soon as practicable after an entry ofjudgment 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 $55,715.11 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l5(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)(l ), 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 petitioner's 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-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,

Docusign Envetope ID: DO4E3DBC•CC8E•8BDE•8060-04DOOEE47F60

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. § 300aa- 15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursed expenses, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h).

13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in petitioner's individual capacity, and on behalf of petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, (a) does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit, and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses, and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or hereafter could be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., (i) on account of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of petitioner resulting from, or that may be alleged to have resulted from , the vaccinations administered on September 8, and October 15, 2022, and (ii) that petitioner has had, now has, or hereafter may have with respect to the injury that gave rise to the petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about May 23, 2025, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as

Docusign Envelope ID: DD4E3DBC-CC8E-88DE-8060-04DD0EE47F60 petition No. 25-879V; and (b) waives any and all rights to any compensation that may be available under the Countenneasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), 42 U.S.C. § 247d- 6e (or an action under 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d(d)), for a claim alleging that a covered countermeasure, including the COVID-19 vaccination administered on September 8, 2022, on its own or in combination with the flu vaccination administered on October 15, 2022, caused or seriously aggravated the injuries that were the subject of the petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about May 23, 2025, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 25- 879V, including a shoulder injury, for which petitioner will receive compensation pursuant to this Stipulation. If petitioner has such a claim currently pending with the CICP, petitioner hereby withdraws such claim for compensation in the CICP. 2 If no claim for compensation has been filed in the CICP as of the date this Stipulation is filed, petitioner waives the right to file a claim as described in this paragraph for compensation in the CICP.

14. If petitioner should die prior to entry ofjudgment, this agreement shall be voidable upon proper notice to the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties.

15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties' settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.

16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the

D<>cusign Envelope ID: DD4E3OBC·CC8E-88OE-8060-04DOOEE47F60 parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly staled and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties' respective positions as to amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the items of compensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement.

17. The Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's shoulder injury or any other injury or his current condition; however, petitioner has satisfied the Table criteria to establish entitlement to compensation.

18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

END OF STIPULATION

Oocusign Envelope ID: OO4E3OBC-CC8E-8BOE-8060·04DO0EE47F60

Respectfully submitted, PETITIONER:

MITCHELL L. KATZMAN ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE PETITIONER: OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: ~~- Counsel for Petitioner

4--U cbtw.\l:Pe• . . HEATHER ~

L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director

MARTIN & JONES, PLLC Torts Branch, Civil Division 4140 Parklane Avenue, Suite 400 U.S. Department of Justice Raleigh, NC 27612 P.O. Box 146 [email protected] Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, DC 20044-0146 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH RESPONDENT:

AND HUMAN SERVICES:

George R. Di9i1allysl9nedbyGeorgeR.

Grlmes -S16 Grimes -S 16 0a1e, 2026.os.1111 n so .04•w

~ v. ~ CAPT GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD, MPH MARGARET ARMSTR.0G Director, Division of Injury Trial Attorney Compensation Programs Torts Branch Health Systems Bureau Civil Division Health Resources and Services U.S. Department of Justice Administration P.O. Box 146 U.S. Department of Health Benjamin Franklin Station and Human Services Washington, DC 20044-0146 5600 Fishers Lane, 14W-18 (202) 616-4043 Rockville, MD 20857 [email protected] Dated: M,- '1 J 'j , 1.,01.- \o