VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01643
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01643
Petitioner: Darlene Lopez
Filed: 2017-10-31
Decided: 2019-12-09
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2014-11-13
Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), acute neuropathy, paresthesia, and bilateral upper extremity weakness
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 30000

AI-assisted case summary:
Darlene Lopez filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Program on October 31, 2017. She alleged that after receiving an influenza vaccine on November 13, 2014, she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), acute neuropathy, paresthesia, and bilateral upper extremity weakness. The respondent denied that the vaccine caused her alleged injuries. However, the parties reached a stipulation for an award. The stipulation provided for a lump sum payment of $1,536.60 to satisfy a State of California Medicaid lien, payable jointly to petitioner and the Department of Health Care Services. Additionally, a lump sum payment of $28,463.40 was to be paid to the petitioner, representing compensation for all other damages. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation and awarded a total of $30,000. The decision was issued on December 9, 2019. Petitioner was represented by Mark T. Sadaka of Mark T. Sadaka, LLC, and respondent was represented by Ryan D. Pyles of the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Darlene Lopez alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on November 13, 2014, caused Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), acute neuropathy, paresthesia, and bilateral upper extremity weakness. The respondent denied causation. The parties stipulated to an award, with the respondent maintaining their position on causation. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, clinical findings, onset, symptoms, tests, or treatments. The award consisted of $1,536.60 for a State of California Medicaid lien and $28,463.40 to the petitioner, totaling $30,000. The decision was issued by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen on December 9, 2019. Petitioner's counsel was Mark T. Sadaka, and respondent's counsel was Ryan D. Pyles.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01643-0
Date issued/filed: 2019-12-30
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/09/2019) regarding 47 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-01643-UNJ Document 55 Filed 12/30/19 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: December 9, 2019
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DARLENE LOPEZ, * Unpublished
*
Petitioner, * No. 17-1643V
*
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation for Award; Influenza
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
* Related to Vaccine Administration
Respondent. * (“SIRVA”).
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mark T. Sadaka, Mark T. Sadaka, LLC, Englewood, NJ, for petitioner.
Ryan D. Pyles, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
DECISION FOR STIPULATION1
On October 31, 2017, Darlene Lopez (“petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner received an
influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 13, 2014. Petition at Preamble; Stipulation at ¶ 2 (ECF
No. 46). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the flu vaccination, she suffered a
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), acute neuropathy, paresthesia,
and bilateral upper extremity weakness. Petition at Preamble; Stipulation at ¶ 4.
On December 6, 2019, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 7. Respondent denies that the flu
vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged injuries, or any other injury or her current condition.
Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties now agree that the
1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
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.A. §
300aa.

Case 1:17-vv-01643-UNJ Document 55 Filed 12/30/19 Page 2 of 7
issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the
compensation to petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix
A. Id. at ¶ 7.
The stipulation provides:
1) A lump sum payment of $1,536.60, representing compensation for satisfaction of
a State of California Medicaid lien, payable jointly to petitioner and:
Department of Health Care Services
Recovery Branch-MS 4720
Re: # C90309225C-VAC03
P.O. Box 997421
Sacramento, CA 95899-7421.
Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to the State; and
2) A lump sum of $28,463.40 in the form of a check payable to the petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under
42 U.S.C. § 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 SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in
accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3 Entry of judgment is expediated by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).
2

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