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Difrancesco v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 17-1289 (2020)

Court: United States Court of Federal Claims Number: 17-1289 Visitors: 17
Judges: Nora Beth Dorsey
Filed: Oct. 26, 2020
Latest Update: Oct. 26, 2020
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: October 1, 2020 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CAROLINE DIFRANCESCO, * UNPUBLISHED * Petitioner, * No. 17-1289V * v. * Special Master Dorsey * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration Respondent. * (“SIRVA”). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. Col
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            In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    Filed: October 1, 2020


* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                  *
CAROLINE DIFRANCESCO,                        *      UNPUBLISHED
                                             *
               Petitioner,                   *      No. 17-1289V
                                             *
v.                                           *      Special Master Dorsey
                                             *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                          *      Decision Based on Stipulation;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                             *      Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
               Respondent.                   *      (“SIRVA”).
                                             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Colleen C. Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                             DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1

       On September 19, 2017, Caroline DiFrancesco (“petitioner”) filed a petition in the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of an
influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on October 4, 2014, petitioner suffered from a
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1).

      On October 1, 2020, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of
compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 79). Respondent denies that the flu vaccine

1
 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned is 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access.
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this Decision
to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
caused petitioner to suffer from SIRVA, or any other injury or her current condition, and denies
that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury.
Id. at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, the parties agree to the
joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. 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 $34,800.00 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). Stipulation at ¶ 8.

      The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of
Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.


                                             s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               Special Master




3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                2


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