Court Opinion

ID: 4432041
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-22 12:01:54.221654+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:20.381475
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-362V
                                      Filed: June 6, 2019
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    STEVEN FLETCHER,

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

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 8, 2018, 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 alleges that he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of his November 3, 2016 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

        On February 19, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On June 5, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating “petitioner should be awarded $86,382.75.

1 The undersigned intends 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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
The award is comprised of the following: $75,000.00 for pain and suffering, $7,081.95
for past out-of-pocket medical expenses, and $4,300.80 for past lost wages.” Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered
award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is
entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $$86,382.75 (comprised of the following:
$75,000.00 for pain and suffering, $7,081.95 for past out-of-pocket medical
expenses, and $4,300.80 for past lost wages) in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Steven Fletcher. This amount represents 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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

_________________________________________
                                          )
STEVEN FLETCHER,                          )
                                          )
                  Petitioner,             )
                                          )                 No. 18-362V
v.                                        )                 Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                          )                 ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       On February 15, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. On February 19, 2019, Chief Special Master

Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine

compensation for his Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). Based

upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $86,382.75.

The award is comprised of the following: $75,000.00 for pain and suffering, $7,081.95 for past

out-of-pocket medical expenses, and $4,300.80 for past lost wages. This amount represents all

elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Petitioner agrees.

 II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through
a lump sum payment of $86,382.75, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner

agrees.

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

                                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                                       JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                       Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                       CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                       Deputy Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       /s/Claudia B. Gangi
                                                       CLAUDIA B. GANGI
                                                       Senior Trial Attorney
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                       U. S. Department of Justice
                                                       P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                       Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                       Direct dial: (202) 616-4138
                                                       Email: claudia.gangi@usdoj.gov

Dated: June 5, 2019

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 pain and
suffering.
                                                  2