In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 14-861V 

Filed: June 28, 2016 

Not for Publication 

************************************* 

ROSIE M. TAYLOR, * 

 * 

Petitioner, * 

 * 

 v. * 

 * 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

* 

************************************* 

Lisa A. Roquemore, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, for petitioner. 

Camille M. Collett, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

MILLMAN, Special Master

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 17, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine 

Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012), alleging she suffered a shoulder and arm injury as 

a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on October 12, 2011. On May 21, 2015, 

respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury 

related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and recommending compensation. 

On June 27, 2016, respondent filed Respondent’s Proffer on Award of Compensation. 

Therefore, the status conference scheduled for June 29, 2016, is CANCELLED. 

 

1

 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this 

case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal 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). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that 

all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets 

or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar 

information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a 

decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the 

document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within 

the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.

Damages decision based on 

proffer; influenza (“flu”) vaccine; 

shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”)
2 

The undersigned finds the terms of respondent’s proffer to be reasonable. Based on the 

record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to the award as stated in the 

proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached proffer, the court awards a lump sum 

payment of $151,548.78, representing compensation for life care expenses expected to be 

incurred during the first year after judgment ($10,023.27), pain and suffering ($138,126.46), and 

past unreimbursable expenses (3,399.05). The award shall be in the form of a check for 

$151,548.78 made payable to petitioner, Rosie Taylor. The court also awards an amount 

sufficient to purchase an annuity contract that will provide payments for the life care items 

contained in the life care plan as illustrated in Tab A of the attached proffer. 

 In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of 

the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 28, 2016 /s/ Laura D. Millman 

 Laura D. Millman

 Special Master

 

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or 

jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
-1-

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

ROSIE TAYLOR, 

 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 

 Respondent. 

 No. 14-861V 

 Special Master Laura Millman

 ECF

RESPONDENT'S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I. Items of Compensation 

A. Life Care Items

 Respondent engaged life care planner Linda Curtis, RN, MS, CCM, CNLCP, and 

petitioner engaged Liz Holakiewicz, RN, BSN, CCM, CNLCP, to provide an estimation of Rosie 

Taylor’s future vaccine-injury related needs. For the purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine 

related” is as described in the respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report, filed May 21, 2015. All items of 

compensation identified in the life care plan are supported by the evidence, and are illustrated by 

the chart entitled Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Rosie Taylor, attached hereto as Tab 

A.1

 Respondent proffers that Rosie Taylor should be awarded all items of compensation set 

forth in the life care plan and illustrated by the chart attached at Tab A. Petitioner agrees.

 1

 The chart at Tab A illustrates the annual benefits provided by the life care plan. The annual benefit years 

run from the date of judgment up to the first anniversary of the date of judgment, and every year thereafter up to the 

anniversary of the date of judgment.
-2-

B. Lost Earnings 

 The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, Rosie Taylor has not suffered a 

past loss of earnings and will not suffer a loss of earnings in the future. Therefore, respondent 

proffers that Rosie Taylor should not be awarded lost earnings as provided under the Vaccine 

Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

 C. Pain and Suffering 

 Respondent proffers that Rosie Taylor should be awarded $138,126.46 in actual and 

projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that any award for projected pain and 

suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner 

agrees.

D. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

 Evidence supplied by petitioner documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable 

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be 

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $3,399.05. Petitioner agrees. 

E. Medicaid Lien

 Petitioner represents that there are no Medicaid liens outstanding against him. 

II. Form of the Award 

The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made 

through a combination of lump sum payments and future annuity payments as described below, 

and request that the Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:2

 A. A lump sum payment of $151,548.78, representing compensation for life care 

expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after judgment ($10,023.27), pain and 

 2

 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for 

appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future lost 

earnings, and future pain and suffering.
-3-

suffering ($138,126.46), and past unreimbursable expenses ($3,399.05), in the form of a check 

payable to petitioner, Rosie Taylor. 

B. An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract,3 subject to the conditions 

described below, that will provide payments for the life care items contained in the life care plan, 

as illustrated by the chart at Tab A, attached hereto, paid to the life insurance company4 from

which the annuity will be purchased.5 Compensation for Year Two (beginning on the first 

anniversary of the date of judgment) and all subsequent years shall be provided through 

respondent’s purchase of an annuity, which annuity shall make payments directly to petitioner, 

Rosie Taylor, only so long as she is alive at the time a particular payment is due. At the 

Secretary’s sole discretion, the periodic payments may be provided to petitioner in monthly, 

quarterly, annual or other installments. The “annual amounts” set forth in the chart at Tab A 

describe only the total yearly sum to be paid to petitioner and do not require that the payment be 

made in one annual installment.

 1. Growth Rate

 Respondent proffers that a four percent (4%) growth rate should be applied to all nonmedical life care items, and a five percent (5%) growth rate should be applied to all medical life 

 3

 In respondent’s discretion, respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one or more life 

insurance companies.

4

 The Life Insurance Company must have a minimum of $250,000,000 capital and surplus, exclusive of 

any mandatory security valuation reserve. The Life Insurance Company must have one of the following ratings 

from two of the following rating organizations:

a. A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;

b. Moody's Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa;

c. Standard and Poor's Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or 

AAA;

d. Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, 

AA+, or AAA. 
-4-

care items. Thus, the benefits illustrated in the chart at Tab A that are to be paid through annuity 

payments should grow as follows: four percent (4%) compounded annually from the date of 

judgment for non-medical items, and five percent (5%) compounded annually from the date of 

judgment for medical items. Petitioner agrees.

 2. Life-Contingent Annuity 

 Petitioner will continue to receive the annuity payments from the Life Insurance 

Company only so long as she, Rosie Taylor, is alive at the time that a particular payment is due. 

Written notice shall be provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Life 

Insurance Company within twenty (20) days of Rosie Taylor’s death. 

 3. Guardianship 

 Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. 

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

A. Lump Sum paid to petitioner, Rosie Taylor: $151,548.78 

B. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described 

 above in section II. B. 

 Respectfully submitted,

 BENJAMIN C. MIZER 

Acting Assistant Attorney General 

 

 RUPA BHATTACHARYYA

 Director

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 CATHARINE E. REEVES

Acting Deputy Director

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 

 5

 Petitioner authorizes the disclosure of certain documents filed by the petitioner in this case consistent 

with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program System 

of Records, No. 09-15-0056.
-5-

 LINDA S. RENZI

 Senior Trial Counsel 

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 s/Camille M. COllett 

CAMILLE M. COLLETT

Trial Attorney 

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 U.S. Department of Justice 

 P.O. Box 146 

 Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

 Telephone: (202) 616-4098 

Dated: June 27, 2016. 
Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Rosie Taylor Page 1 of 1

ITEMS OF COMPENSATION G.R. * M

Lump Sum 

Compensation 

Year 1

Compensation 

Years 2-Life

2016 2017-Life

Medicare Part B Deductible 5% 166.00 

Medicare Suppl A 5% M 1,383.00 

Pain Management 5% * 180.00 

Orthopedist 5% * 90.00 

Physical Therapy Evaluation 4% * 30.00 

Physical Therapy 4% * 180.00 

TENS Unit 4% *

Reacher 4% 27.99 7.00 

Lift Seat 4% 227.90 45.58 

Shoulder Ice Pack 4% 33.00 33.00 

Massage Therapy 4% 884.97 884.97 

Gym Membership 4% M 509.00 360.00 

Personal Care 4% M 5,356.00 5,356.00 

Housekeeping/Ancillary Services 4% M 2,304.00 2,304.00 

Ibuprofen 4% 121.75 121.75 

Mileage: Pain Mngt 4% 13.68 13.68 

Mileage: Orthopedist 4% 39.90 

Mileage: Physical Therpay 4% 11.40 3.80 

Mileage: Massage Therapy 4% 13.68 13.68 

Pain and Suffering 138,126.46

Past Unreimbursable Expenses 3,399.05

Annual Totals 10,692.46 151,548.78 

Note: Compensation Year 1 consists of the 12 month period following the date of judgment.

Compensation Year 2 consists of the 12 month period commencing on the first anniversary of the date of judgment.

As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to petitioner for Yr 1 life care 

expenses ($10,023.27), pain and suffering ($138,126.46), and past unreimbursable expenses ($3,399.05): $151,548.78.

Annual amounts payable through an annuity for future Compensation Years follow the anniversary of the date of judgment.

Annual amounts shall increase at the rates indicated above in column G.R., compounded annually from the date of judgment.

Items denoted with an asterisk (*) covered by health insurance and/or Medicare.

Items denoted with an "M" payable in twelve monthly installments totaling the annual amount indicated.