Court Opinion

ID: 8212666
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-07 17:01:34.717864+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:42:12.525439
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 20-0277V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    RENEE LACOURSE-BURMEISTER,                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                         Filed: August 18, 2022

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

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                       DECISION ON DAMAGES1

       On March 12, 2020, Renee LaCourse-Burmeister 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 as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine
received on September 25, 2018, she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”). Petition

1
  Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 opinion 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.

2
 National 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).
(ECF No. 1) at Preamble. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
of the Office of Special Masters.

        On February 16, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 18, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation. In the Proffer, Respondent 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 $45,824.68 (representing $45,000.00 for pain and suffering, and
$824.68 for past unreimbursable 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 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
__________________________________________
                                           )
RENEE LACOURSE-BURMEISTER,                )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                           )  No. 20-277V (ECF)
v.                                         )  Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On March 12, 2020, petitioner filed a Petition for Compensation alleging that she

suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), following the receipt of

a flu vaccine administered on September 25, 2018. On June 28, 2021, respondent filed a Rule

4(c) Report stating that the medical records in this case do not establish that petitioner’s

condition began within 48 hours of vaccination, which is a Vaccine Table requirement for

SIRVA. ECF No. 30 at 5-7, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (c)(3)(10)(ii). Respondent further explained that

the record did not establish that petitioner’s symptoms persisted for at least six months. ECF No.

30 at 5-7; 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11 (c)(1)(D)(1). On October 12, 2021, petitioner moved for a

Ruling on the Record arguing that her symptoms of SIRVA began within forty-eight hours of

vaccination, and that she suffered the residual effects or complications of her injury for more

than six months. ECF No. 33 at 1. On October 19, 2021, respondent filed a response to

petitioner’s motion arguing that the medical record evidence did not support either of petitioner’s

proposed findings. ECF No. 35.

       On February 12, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement
concluding “that [p]etitioner suffered the residual effects of her alleged SIRVA for more than six

months, [and] that she suffered the onset of symptoms within 48 hours.” ECF no. 36 at 2. He

explained that the parties only presented a dispute on those two elements of petitioner’s claim,

and that the record otherwise satisfies the remaining Table SIRVA and statutory criteria. See

ECF No. 36 at 12-13 citing 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (c)(3)(10)(i-iv). Thus, he concluded that petitioner

was entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act.1

I.       Items of Compensation

         Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

the following, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment

award:

            a. a lump sum payment of $45,000.00, which represents compensation for pain and
               suffering, see 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4), and

            b. a lump sum payment of $824.68, which represents compensation for past
               unreimbursed medical expenses, see 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1).

         These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).2 Petitioner agrees.

II.      Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that petitioner be awarded a lump sum payment of $45,824.68, in the

form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

1
  Nothing stated in this filing should be construed as a concession on any issues previously
raised by respondent, or as a waiver of respondent’s right to seek review of the Court’s February
16, 2022, Ruling on Entitlement.
2
  Should petitioner die prior to the 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
                             Respectfully submitted,

                             BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                             HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                             Deputy Director
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                             ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                             Assistant Director
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                             /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                             DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                             Senior Trial Attorney
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                             U.S. Department of Justice
                             P.O. Box 146
                             Benjamin Franklin Station
                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                             Phone: (202) 616-4181
Dated: August 18, 2022

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