Court Opinion

ID: 4566888
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-18 16:01:39.924101+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:54:01.272074
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-516V
                                     Filed: August 6, 2020
                        Refiled in Redacted Form: September 18, 2020
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    S.B.,
                                                             Special Master Horner
                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Tetanus
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          (Tdap); Shoulder Injury Related to
                                                             Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
                        Respondent.

Amber Diane Wilson, Wilson Science Law, Washington, DC for petitioner.
Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 12, 2017, 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 alleged that her receipt of the influenza (“flu”) and tetanus, diphtheria,
acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccinations on February 4, 2016 caused her to suffer a left
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). (ECF No. 1.) This case
was first assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”). On March 5, 2019, a ruling
on entitlement was issued finding petitioner entitled to compensation for her left
shoulder injury. (ECF No. 51.) On December 5, 2019, this case was reassigned to my
docket. (ECF No. 67.)

         On August 6, 2020, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation
(“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded: a lump sum payment of

1I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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. 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).

2National 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).
$417,516.17, representing compensation for life care expenses expected to be incurred
during the first year after judgment ($2,698.72), lost earnings ($266,908.86), pain and
suffering ($137,500.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($10,408.59), in the form of
a check payable to S.B.; and an amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract as
described in the Proffer. Proffer at 3. In the Proffer, respondent represented that
petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. Based on the record as a whole, I
find that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

     Accordingly, pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer and
accompanying Appendix, I award:

    •   A lump sum payment of $417,516.17, representing compensation for life
        care expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after judgment
        ($2,698.72), lost earnings ($266,908.86), pain and suffering ($137,500.00),
        and past unreimbursable expenses ($10,408.59), in the form of a check
        payable to petitioner; and

    •   An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in the
        attached Proffer at Section II.B.

These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be available under
§15(a).

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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                           s/Daniel T. Horner
                                                           Daniel T. Horner
                                                           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

[S.B.],

                 Petitioner,                            No. 17-516V
                                                        Special Master Horner
v.                                                      ECF

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,

                 Respondent.

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

          On April 12, 2017, [S.B.] (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or

“Act”), alleging that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA) as a result of influenza (“flu”) and Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap)

vaccinations she received on February 4, 2016. Petition at 1. On February 28, 2019, the

Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that

this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury,

and on March 5, 2019, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to

compensation. ECF No. 50; ECF No. 51.

I.        Items of Compensation

          A.     Life Care Items

          Petitioner submitted evidence of future vaccine-injury related life care needs. For the

purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine related” is as described in the respondent’s Rule 4(c)

Report. All items of compensation identified as vaccine related are supported by the evidence,
and are illustrated by the chart entitled Appendix A: Items of Compensation for [S.B.],

attached hereto as Tab A.1 Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded all items of

compensation identified as vaccine related and illustrated by the chart attached at Tab A.

Petitioner agrees.

          B.     Lost Earnings

The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, [S.B.] has suffered past loss of

earnings and will suffer a loss of earnings in the future. Therefore, respondent proffers that

petitioner should be awarded lost earnings as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Respondent proffers that the appropriate award for [S.B.]'s lost earnings is

$266,908.86. Petitioner agrees.

          C.     Pain and Suffering

          Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $137,500.00 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.

          C.     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 $10,408.59. 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
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 $417,516.17, representing compensation for life care

expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after judgment ($2,698.72), lost earnings

($266,908.86), pain and suffering ($137,500.00), and past unreimbursable expenses

($10,408.59), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, [S.B.].

       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 identified as vaccine related,

as illustrated by the chart at Tab A, attached hereto, paid to the life insurance company 4 from

       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
         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.

                                                 3
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,

[S.B.] only so long as petitioner 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 life 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.

       2.      Life-contingent annuity

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

so long as she, [S.B.] 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 [S.B.]’s death.

       3.      Guardianship

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

       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.
                                                  4
III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.    Lump Sum paid to petitioner, [S.B.]:                              $417,516.17

       B.    An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described
             above in section II.B.

                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                          ETHAN P. DAVIS
                                          Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                          CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                          Deputy Director
                                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                          DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                          Assistant Director
                                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                          s/Linda S. Renzi
                                          LINDA S. RENZI
                                          Senior Trial Counsel
                                          Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                          U. S. Department of Justice
                                          P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                          Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                          Tel: (202) 616-4133

Dated: August 5, 2020

                                             5
                                       Appendix A: Items of Compensation for [S.B.]                                 Page 1 of 1

                                                       Lump Sum
                                                      Compensation       Compensation
  ITEMS OF COMPENSATION             G.R.    *    M       Year 1           Years 2-22
                                                          2020            2021-2041
Primary Care Physician Co-pays       4%     *                 50.00               50.00
Pain Management Co-pays              4%     *                140.00              140.00
Prescription Medications             4%     *    M         2,508.72           2,508.72
Lost Earnings                                           266,908.86
Pain and Suffering                                      137,500.00
Past Unreimbursable Expenses                              10,408.59
Annual Totals                                             417,516.17            2,698.72

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 ($2,698.72), lost earnings ($266,908.86), pain and suffering ($137,500.00), and past
unreimbursable expenses ($10,408.59): $417,516.17.
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.