Court Opinion

ID: 4910797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-14 17:04:11.406786+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:20.404789
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0325V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    RICHARD JONES,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: August 11, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine;
                                                                Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

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

Wei Kit Tai, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On March 23, 2020, Richard Jones 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 a pneumococcal conjugate vaccination administered
to him on October 15, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On August 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for a SIRVA. ECF 23. On August 11, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $53,873.49.
Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with 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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $53,873.49 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, consisting
of (1) $52,500.00 in pain and suffering and (2) $1,373.49 in past unreimbursed
expenses. These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be
available under Section 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

                                                     )
 RICHARD JONES,                                      )
                                                     )
                Petitioner,                          )
                                                     )   No. 20-325V
 v.                                                  )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                     )   ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                       )
 SERVICES,                                           )
                                                     )
                Respondent.                          )
                                                     )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On March 23, 2020, Richard Jones (“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 he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration

(“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an

pneumococcal conjugate vaccine he received on October 15, 2018.

       On August 10, 2021, 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. ECF No. 22. On August 10, 2021, the Chief Special Master

issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 23.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $52,500.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

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

       B.      Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past unreimbursable expenses

related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past

unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,373.49. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).

Petitioner agrees.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(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 as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $53,873.49, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Richard Jones:                               $53,873.49

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                         HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                         Deputy Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         ALEXIS BABCOCK
                         Assistant Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         s/ Wei Kit (Ricky) Tai
                         WEI KIT (RICKY) TAI
                         Trial Attorney
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division
                         U.S. Department of Justice
                         P.O. Box 146
                         Ben Franklin Station
                         Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                         Direct dial: (202) 598-7705
                         Wei.Tai@usdoj.gov

Dated: August 11, 2021

                            3