Court Opinion

ID: 6221512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-14 18:01:49.866477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:22.419595
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0857V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    SHIRLEY VANDERFORD,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: January 14, 2022
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Sean Frank Greenwood, Greenwood Law Firm, Houston, TX, for Petitioner.

Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On July 14, 2020, Shirley Vanderford 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 related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) after an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 30,
2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

       On October 12, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her first SIRVA injury. ECF No. 23. On January 14, 2022, Respondent
filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be
awarded $55,653.68, representing $55,000.00 in actual pain and suffering and $653.68
for past unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

      Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $55,653.68 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                         s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         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
                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                               )
SHIRLEY VANDERFORD,                            )
                                               )
                Petitioner,                    )      No. 20-857V
                                               )      Chief Special Master Corcoran
         v.                                    )      ECF
                                               )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                            )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                            )
                                               )
                Respondent.                    )
                                               )

                  RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

         On October 8, 2021, respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed his

Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation in this matter alleging a Shoulder Injury

Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). On October 12, 2021, the Court entered its

Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner Shirley Vanderford entitled to Vaccine Act

compensation. Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive a compensation award consisting

of a lump sum of $55,653.68 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Shirley Vanderford. 1

This amount consists of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $653.68 for past unreimbursed

expenses, and represents compensation for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled. 2

         Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $55,653.68. 3

1
    Petitioner is a competent adult. No guardianship is required.
2
  Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for
future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
3
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).
                              Respectfully submitted,

                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

                              C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                              Acting Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                              Deputy Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              TRACI R. PATTON
                              Assistant Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              s/Voris E. Johnson, Jr.
                              VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.
                              Senior Trial Attorney
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                              U.S. Department of Justice
                              P.O. Box 146
                              Ben Franklin Station
                              Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                              Direct dial: (202) 616-4136
                              Email: voris.johnson@usdoj.gov

Dated: January 14, 2022

                          2