The opinion
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-0448V
Filed: January 24, 2018
UNPUBLISHED
BETTY CHALLY,
Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
Petitioner, Stipulation on Damages; Influenza
v. (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND (SIRVA)
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On March 28, 2017, petitioner 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 as a result of
receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 13, 2015. Petition at ¶ 2; Stipulation,
filed January 24, 2018, at ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was
administered in the United States, she suffered the effects of the injury for more than six
months, and there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages
as a result of her condition. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 2-16, 19-20; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5.
Respondent “denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged SIRVA or any other
injury and further denies that her current disabilities are a sequela of a vaccine-related
injury ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.
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 January 24, 2018, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, the undersigned
awards the following compensation:
A lump sum of $122,000.00 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.
The undersigned approves 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
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