Court Opinion

ID: 4533555
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-12 16:01:59.362296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:54.357769
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-0045V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JEAN WINGARD,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: April 7, 2020
    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)

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On January 8, 2019, Jean Wingard 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 left Shoulder Injury Related to
Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) following her receipt of an influenza vaccine
administered on October 26, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On March 11, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for a left SIRVA. On April 7, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $70,365.00.
Proffer at 2-3. This amount includes a lump sum of $70,000.00 for her actual and
projected pain and suffering and $365.00 for past unreimbursable expenses. Id. In the

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $70,365.00 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

                                              )
JEAN WINGARD,                                 )
                                              )
               Petitioner,                    )
                                              )       No. 19-45V (ECF)
v.                                            )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                              )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                       )
HUMAN SERVICES,                               )
                                              )
               Respondent.                    )
                                              )

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On January 30, 2020, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report, in which he conceded that

petitioner sustained the onset of a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”) within the time period set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table, following her receipt of

an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 20, 2016. Docket No. 19. On March 11,

2020, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner is entitled to

compensation. Docket No. 22.

       I. Items of Compensation

       A. Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that the Court should award petitioner a lump sum of $70,000.00 for

her actual and projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award for projected

pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4).

Petitioner agrees.
          B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

          Respondent proffers that the Court should award petitioner a lump sum of $365.00 for

past unreimbursable expenses, as provided under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(A). Petitioner

agrees.

          II. Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a

lump sum payment of $70,365.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, which represents

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

15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

                                                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

                                                HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                Assistant Director
                                                Torts Branch, Civil Division

1
  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
                       s/ Claudia B. Gangi
                       CLAUDIA B. GANGI
                       Senior Trial Attorney
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                       U.S. Department of Justice
                       P.O. Box 146
                       Benjamin Franklin Station
                       Washington D.C. 20044-0146
                       Tel: (202) 616-4138
                       claudia.gangi@usdoj.gov

Dated: April 7, 2020

                         3