VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00702
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00702
Petitioner: Judith Schultz
Filed: 2016-07-13
Decided: 2016-10-03
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2014-09-22
Condition: shoulder injury
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 110000

AI-assisted case summary:
Judith Schultz filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on July 6, 2015, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury caused by her September 22, 2014 influenza vaccination. She further alleged that she experienced residual effects of her injury for more than six months and that there had been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from a shoulder injury or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on July 13, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Judith Schultz was awarded a lump sum of $110,000.00, payable to her, as compensation for all items of damages. Maximillian Muller of Muller Brazil, LLP, represented the petitioner, and Douglas Ross of the U.S. Department of Justice represented the respondent. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Judith Schultz alleged a shoulder injury caused by her September 22, 2014 influenza vaccination, with residual effects lasting more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation, which Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey approved on October 3, 2016. Petitioner was awarded $110,000.00 as a lump sum. The specific theory of causation, medical experts, and mechanism of injury were not detailed in the public decision, which was based on a stipulation rather than litigation of entitlement. Petitioner was represented by Maximillian Muller (Muller Brazil, LLP), and respondent was represented by Douglas Ross (U.S. Department of Justice).

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00702-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-10-03
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/13/2016) regarding 29 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-00702-UNJ Document 41 Filed 10/03/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-702V
Filed: July 13, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JUDITH SCHULTZ, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza;
* Shoulder Injury; SIRVA
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Maximillian Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Douglas Ross, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On July 6, 2015, 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 shoulder injury caused by her September
22, 2014 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed July 13, 2016, at ¶ 4.
Petitioner further alleges that she experienced residual effects of her injury for more
than six months and that there has been now prior award or settlement of a civil action
for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition. Petition at 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 4-
5. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from a shoulder
injury or any other injury. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on July 13, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
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.
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).

Case 1:15-vv-00702-UNJ Document 41 Filed 10/03/16 Page 2 of 7
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 $110,000.00 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

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