Court Opinion

ID: 4667820
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-15 21:02:00.096522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:15.242791
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED

    In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1146V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    NIKKI RUDD,                                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 10, 2021
    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)

Kathryn Lee Bruns, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for petitioner.

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On August 7, 2019, Nikki Rudd 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) after receipt of the influenza (flu) vaccine on October 5, 2016.
Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United
States, onset of symptoms began within 48 hours of vaccination, her symptoms persisted
for more than six months, and she has never received compensation in the form of an
award or settlement for her vaccine-related injuries. Petition at 1, 5-6. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 29, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On February 10, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $52,928.91.
Proffer at 2. 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 $52,928.91 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