     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-0181V
                                         UNPUBLISHED


    VALERIE ELDRIDGE,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: May 19, 2020
    v.

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


Kristina E. Grigorian, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.

Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.


                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On January 31, 2019, Valerie Eldridge 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
injury (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her right
shoulder on October 7, 2017. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed May 19, 2020, at ¶¶ 4-6.
Petitioner further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her SIRVA for
more than six months. Petition at 1; Stipulation at ¶¶ 4, 6. “Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained a Table SIRVA within the Table timeframe, and denies that the flu
vaccine in fact caused her alleged shoulder injury and residual effects, or any other
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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
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).
       Nevertheless, on May 19, 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 $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 § 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.

                                                      2
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                      )
VALERIE ELDRIDGE,                                     )
                                                      )
                       Petitioner,                    )
                                                      )       No. 19-181 V (ECF)
V.                                                    )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                      )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                   )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                   )
                                                      )
                       Respondent.                    )


                                          STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

        1.     Valerie Eldridge ("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 sustained following

petitioner's receipt of an influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine

Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a).

       2.      Petitioner received a flu vaccine on October 7, 2017.

       3.      The vaccine was administered within the United States.

       4.      Petitioner alleges that she sustained the first symptom or manifestation of onset of

a right Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set

forth in the Tab!~, or in the alternative, that the flu vaccine caused-in-fact her right SIRVA.

Petitioner furthe~ alleges that she experienced the residual effects of her SIRVA for more than

six months.

       5.      Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil
action for damages as a result of her condition.

        6.       Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a Table SIRVA within the Table

timeframe, and denies that the flu vaccine in fact caused her alleged shoulder injury and residual

effects, or any other 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 dc:;scribed 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 $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
                Valerie Eldridge, which amount represents compensation for all damages
                that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

        9.      As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and

after petitioner h,as filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(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 petitio!1.

        10.     P~titioner and her attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to

this Stipulation \snot 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



                                                   2
et seq.), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

        11.     Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to

paragraph 9 ofthis 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, the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation

will be used sol~ly for the benefit of petitioner, as contemplated by a strict construction of 42

U.S.C. § 300aa- ~ 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 her

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

does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the Secretary of

Health and Human Services and the United States of America 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-l0 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 vaccine administered on

October 7, 2017, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about

January 31, 2019, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 19-181V.

        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 pai1ies.

        15.     If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the


                                                     3
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 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 not be construed as an admission by the United States of

America or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that petitioner's alleged right shoulder

injury and residual effects, or any other injury, were caused by the flu vaccine.

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

petitioner's heirs, successors and/or assigns.

                                     END OF STIPULATION

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 Respectfully submitted,

 PETITIONER:


 v'aQ.1~ fQJxi&--;
 VALERIEEL RIDGE'
                c:)'-

 ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR                     AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
 PETITIONER:                                OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:
                                                                   Ge___
                                                                        --
Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates                 Deputy Director
9l50 Wilshire Boulevard                     Torts Branch, Civit Division
Suite 241                                   U.S. Department of Justice
Beverly Hills, CA 90212                     P.O. Box 146
(3 LO) 273-5462                             Benjamin Franklin Station
                                            Washington, DC 20044-0146


AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE                   ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR
OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH                  RESPONDENT:
AND HUMAN SERVICES:
                                            V ~ L ~ Y1"
                                            VO~ E~ LL____
TAMARA OVERBY
Acting Director, Division of Injury         Senior Trial Attorney
   Compensation Programs (DICP)             Torts Brunch
Healthcare Systems Bureau                   Civil Division
U.S. Department of Health                   U.S. Department of Justkt?
   and Human Services                       P.O . Box 146
5600 Fishers Lane                           Benjamin Franklin Station
Parklawn Buildin:g, Mail Stop 08Nl46B       Washington, DC 20044-0146
Rockville, MD 20857                         (202) 616-4136


Dated:   C:S /,2,,/ ~
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