Court Opinion

ID: 4682728
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-30 13:01:42.730473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:10.695436
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0983V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    JEANNE M. MISKE,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: March 30, 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)

Richard H. Moeller, Moore, Heffernan, et al., LLP, Sioux City, IA, for Petitioner.

Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 9, 2019, Jeanne M. Miske 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
Vaccination Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine
on September 27, 2018 in her right shoulder. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that
she suffered the residual effects and complications of her vaccine-related injury for more
than six months after vaccination. Petition at 8. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 28, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation. On March 29, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $60,004.17,
consisting of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $5,004.17 for unreimbursed medical

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
expenses. Proffer at 1. 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 $60,004.17 (consisting of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$5,004.17 for unreimbursed medical expenses) 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

JEANNE M. MISKE,

                    Petitioner,
                                                       Case No. 19-983V (ECF)
v.                                                     CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
                                                       CORCORAN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,

                    Respondent.

              RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.    Procedural History

      On December 18, 2020, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding

that Jeanne M. Miske (“petitioner”) suffered an injury that is compensable under the

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -

34 (“the Act”). Accordingly, on December 28, 2020, the Chief Special Master issued a

Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation under the Act.

II.   Items of Compensation and Form of the Award

      Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded $60,004.17. The award is comprised of the following: $55,000.00 for pain and

suffering and $5,004.17 for unreimbursed medical expenses. This amount represents all

elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) regarding her September 27, 2018, influenza vaccination.

Petitioner agrees.1

III.    Form of the Award

        The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $60,004.17, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

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

case.

                                                  Respectfully submitted,

                                                  BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                  Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                  HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                  Acting Deputy Director
                                                  Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                  DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                                  Assistant 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 medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                                              2
                            s/ Mark K. Hellie
                            MARK K. HELLIE
                            Trial Attorney
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division
                            U.S. Department of Justice
                            P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
                            Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                            T: (202) 616-4208
                            E: mark.hellie@usdoj.gov
DATED: March 29, 2021

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