Court Opinion

ID: 4659430
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-02-11 14:01:35.158659+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:59.617483
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0858V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MICHAELENE WIDSON,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: December 21, 2020
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On June 11, 2019, Michaelene Widson 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 a Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccine administered on May 15, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On October 28, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On December 18, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $75,000.00. Proffer
at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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

2 National 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).
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 $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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/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
____________________________________
                                      )
MICHAELENE WIDSON,                    )
                                      )
             Petitioner,              )
                                      )    No. 19-858V
      v.                              )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                      )    ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND               )
HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                      )
             Respondent.              )
____________________________________)

         RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       On October 26, 2020, respondent filed a Rule 4 (c) Report conceding entitlement

in this case. On October 28, 2020, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that

petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to

Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of

record, petitioner should be awarded $75,000.00. This amount represents all elements of

compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1);

15(a)(3)(A); and 15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be

made through a lump sum payment as described below, and request that the Chief Special

Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
       A lump sum payment of $75,000.00, in the form of a check payable to
       petitioner, Michaelene Widson. This amount accounts for all elements of
       compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is
       entitled.

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

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     JEFFERY BOSSERT CLARK
                                                     Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                     CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                     Deputy Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                     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 146
                                                     Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                     Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                     Tel.: (202) 616-4133
Dated: December 18, 2020