Court Opinion

ID: 5246800
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 18:01:42.980917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:27:52.701202
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1240V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    LENORA DONLIN,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 29, 2021
    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)

Kathleen Margaret, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN , for Petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On September 21, 2020, Lenora Donlin 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine that was administered
to her on September 9, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 1, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On November 29, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $55,413.18
(comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering, $3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87
for unreimbursable medical expenses). Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
represented that 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 $55,413.18 (comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering,
$3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87 for unreimbursable medical expenses) 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

LENORA DONLIN,                                      )
                                                    )
                      Petitioner,                   )
                                                    )
       v.                                           ) No. 20-1240V
                                                    ) Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
SECRETARY OF                                        )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          )
                                                    )
                      Respondent.                   )
                                                    )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On October 29, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) within the

Table timeframe following an influenza vaccination, which was compensable under the National

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Accordingly,

on November 1, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00 for pain and suffering,

$3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87 for unreimbursable medical expenses. These amounts

represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II.    Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $55,413.18 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 This

lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

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

                                              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

                                              DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                                              LARA A. ENGLUND
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                              U.S. Department of Justice
                                              P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station
                                              Washington D.C. 20044-0146
                                              Tel: (202) 307-3013
                                              E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: November 29, 2021

1
  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 pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

                                                 2