     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1924V
                                         UNPUBLISHED


    JONATHAN HARRIS,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: June 17, 2020,
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
                                                              Related to Vaccine Administration
                        Respondent.                           (SIRVA)


Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.

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



                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On December 17, 2018, Jonathan Harris filed a 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 a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination he
received on December 19, 2017. Petition at 1; Stipulation, issued on June 17, 2020, ¶¶
2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that he received the vaccine in the United States, that he
experienced the residual effects of this injury for more than six months, and that there
has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on his behalf as a
result of his condition. Petition at 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3, 5. “Respondent denies that the
flu vaccine caused [P]etitioner to suffer a left shoulder SIRVA, 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
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 June 17, 2020, 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 $110,000.00 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.

       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.

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                IN THE UNITED STA TES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                              )
JONA THAN HARRIS,                             )
                                              )
               Petitioner,                    )
                                              )       No. 18-1924V
        V.                                    )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                              )       ECF
SECRET ARY OF HEALTH AND                      )
HUMAN SERVICES,                               )
                                              )
               Respondent.                    )


                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        I. Jonathan Harris, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-l Oto -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

"Table"), 42 C.F.R. § I 00.3 (a).

       2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on December 19, 2017.

       3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

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

administration ("SIRVA") as a result of receiving the flu 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 his condition.

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

SIRVA, 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-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of $110,000.00 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), including pain and suffering and unreimbursed medical
        expenses.

        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-2l(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 her 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-15(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.

        l 1. 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.


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        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-l 5(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-l 5(g) and (h).

        13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in his

individual capacity, and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns,

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 could be timely

brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation

Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., 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 alleged to have resulted from, the flu vaccination administered on December 19, 2017,

as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about December 17,

2018, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 18-1924V.

        14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, 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 tem1s

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.



                                                  3
        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

parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated

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 liability and/or

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. This Stipulation shall ~ot be construed as an admission by the United States or the

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to have a left

shoulder injury, or any other injury or his cmTent condition.

       18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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  Respectfully submitted,

  PETITIONER:



..l ~'"oNATHAN HARRIS

  ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                      AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
  PETITIONER:                                 OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:
                                              ~                      Lt.___   _.-o\




 LEAHY.DUR NT                                 CATHARlNE E. REEVES
 ~ounset tor Petitioner                       ucputy JJirector
 Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC          Torts Branch, Civil Division
 1717 K Street NW, Suite 900                  U.S. Department of Justice
 Washington, DC 20006                         P.O. Box 146
                                              Benjamin Franklin Station
                                              Washington, DC 20044-0146


 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                    ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
 OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   RESPONDENT:
 AND HUMAN SERVICES:

                                              ~o~
  TAMARA OVERBY
  Acting Director, Division of Injury
                                              M~~ ~
                                              Trial Attorney
  Compensation Programs                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
  Healthcare Systems Bureau                   U.S. Department of Justice
  U.S. Department of Health                   P.O. Box 146
  and Human Services                          Benjamin Franklin Station
  5600 Fishers Lane                           Washington, DC 20044-0146
  Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N 1468
  Rockville, MD 20857


  Dated:   ei,/t   (o /   ~




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