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Hines v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 18-1000 (2020)

Court: United States Court of Federal Claims Number: 18-1000 Visitors: 11
Judges: Brian H. Corcoran
Filed: Sep. 14, 2020
Latest Update: Sep. 14, 2020
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1000V UNPUBLISHED DONNA HINES, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: August 6, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Stipulation on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) Harrison Whitten Long, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner. Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washin
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     In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-1000V
                                          UNPUBLISHED


    DONNA HINES,                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: August 6, 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)


Harrison Whitten Long, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.

Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.


                                DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1

        On July 12, 2018, Donna Hines 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 left Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (SIRVA) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered to her
on November 2, 2017. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at August 6, 2020, ¶¶ 1, 4. Petitioner
further alleges that she “did not have any problems with her left arm and shoulder prior to
the flu vaccination” and “experienced vaccine injury related symptoms in her left shoulder
for more than six months. Petition at 3; Stipulation at ¶ 4 . “Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused petitioner’s
alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a
sequelae of a vaccine-related 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 August 6, 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 $39,500.00 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 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 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


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