Court Opinion

ID: 2784579
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-06 21:01:38.41839+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:32.534772
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-576V
                                    Filed: February 11, 2015

*************************
GREGORY SMITH                                     *
                                                  *
                         Petitioner,              *       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                  *       Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
v.                                                *       (“Tdap”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
                                                  *       Related to Vaccine Administration
                                                  *       (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
                                                  *       (“SPU”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                    Respondent.                   *
*************************
Marvin Firestone, Esq., Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, San Mateo, CA, for
petitioner.
Heather Pearlman, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Vowell, Chief Special Master:

        On July 8, 2014, Gregory Smith filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq,2 (the
“Vaccine Act” or “Program”). The petition alleges that as a result of a Tetanus-
diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination on July 11, 2011, petitioner suffered a
left shoulder injury and related sequelae. Petition at 6. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters.

     On October 29, 2014, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation. On February 10, 2015, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) detailing compensation for all elements of compensation to

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). In accordance with
Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioners have 14 days to identify and move to delete 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 delete 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 (2006).
which petitioner would be entitled under §15(a). According to respondent’s Proffer,
petitioner agrees to the proposed award of compensation.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award petitioner a lump
sum payment of $201,882.12 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/Denise K. Vowell
                                                                 Denise K. Vowell
                                                                 Chief Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                    2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
GREGORY SMITH,                       )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )  No. 14-576V
                                     )  Chief Special Master Vowell
      v.                             )  ECF
                                     )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
                                     )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.       Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

         For purposes of this Proffer, the term “vaccine-related” is described in Respondent’s Rule

4(c) Report, filed on October 29, 2014, conceding entitlement in this case. Respondent proffers

that, based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $201,882.12. This amount

represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be 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 special master’s decision

and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

      A. A lump sum payment of $201,882.12 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
         Gregory Smith. This amount accounts for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C.
         § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be entitled.

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 pain and suffering, and
future lost wages.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     JOYCE R. BRANDA
                                                     Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                                     RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                                     Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                                                     Deputy Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     MICHAEL P. MILMOE
                                                     Senior Trial Counsel
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     s/ Heather L. Pearlman
                                                     HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                     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) 353-2699
                                                     Fax:    (202) 616-4310

Dated: February 10, 2015