Trigoboff v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Sn the Cnited States Court of Federal Claiung OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-1117V Filed: January 5, 2021 * oF ok Ck oe ok OF Oe Ok ek OK OK DANIEL H TRIGOBOFF, * UNPUBLISHED * Petitioner, * Decision on Joint Stipulation; * Shoulder Injury Related to Vv. * Vaccine Administration * (“SIRVA”); Tetanus- SECRETARY OF HEALTH * diphtheria-acellular pertussis AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“Tdap”) Vaccine * Respondent. * * oF ok Ck oe ok OF Oe Ok ek OK OK Robert P. Goodwin, Esq., Walsh Roberts & Grace, Buffalo, NY, for petitioner. Alexis Babcock, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION! Roth, Special Master: On August 21, 2017, Daniel Trigoboff [“Mr. Trigoboff’ or “petitioner” ] filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.” Petitioner alleges that he sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (““SIRVA”) after receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination on or about November 16, 2015. Stipulation, filed Jan. 5, 2021, at {| 1-4. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury and denies that the Tdap immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at { 6. Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On January 5, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms. | Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107- 347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public. /d. 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). Respondent agrees to issue the following payment: A lump sum of $38,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Daniel Trigoboff. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a). I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.? IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Mindy Michaels Roth Mindy Michaels Roth Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) DANIEL H. TRIGOBOFF, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 17-1117V V. ) | Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 1. Daniel H. Trigoboff, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (the “Vaccine Program”). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner’s receipt of a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (‘Tdap”), which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table™), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). 2. Petitioner received a Tdap vaccination on or about November 16, 2015. 3. The vaccine was administered within the United States. 4. Petitioner alleges that he sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) within the time period set forth in the Table. He further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of this condition 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 his condition. 6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; and denies that his current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related 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-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment: A lump sum of $38,000.00 in the form of acheck payable to petitioner. This 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 has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), 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 his attorney represent that they have identified to respondent all known sources of payment for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), including 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 entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis. 11. Payments made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation, and any amount 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. 12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable 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-15(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(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 and/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 Tdap vaccination administered on or about November 16, 2015, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about August 21, 2017 in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 17- LLI7V. 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 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 Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 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 actor 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 or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury or his current 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 Respectfully submitted, PETITIONER: S deaueglt Leegrt~] ( DANIEL H. TRTIGOBOFF ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR PETITIONER: by etl’ Lorllun ROBERT P. GOODWIN, ESQ. Walsh Roberts & Grace 400 Rand Building 14 Lafayette Square Buffalo, New York (716) 856-1636 AeA 14203-1928 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: CHIT Dale Whshler, DNSe, fr TAMARA OVERBY Acting Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs Healthcare Systems Bureau U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 5600 Fishers Lane Parklawn Building, Mail Stop 08N146B Rockville. MD 20857 Dated: oilOS zor AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: 2 Sta at Oo as JI __ CATHARINE E REEVES PEATE L PEHEUMAD Deputy Director Torts Branch Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR RESPONDENT: MEX) B baloc ock— LINDAS-RENZT PLeKIS G& BABCOCIL Senior-Frial Counsel SS SMAST Die oT Torts Branch Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 646-4433 GIG- 7678