Court Opinion

ID: 6321545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-09 18:02:45.089052+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:05.446473
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 20-1703V
                                      Filed: February 10, 2022
                                           UNPUBLISHED

    REGIS GRICE,                                                Special Master Horner

                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                                Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Injury Related to Vaccine
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Administration (SIRVA)

                         Respondent.

Ryan Truesdale, Groth Law Firm, S.C., Wauwatosa, WI, for petitioner.
Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On November 23, 2020, Regis Grice 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”). (ECF No. 1.)

       On January 14, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for his SIRVA. On February 10, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $35,000.00.
(ECF No. 42.) 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.

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
      Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $35,000.00 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/Daniel T. Horner
                                                         Daniel T. Horner
                                                         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

                                                  )
 REGIS GRICE,                                     )
                                                  )
                Petitioner,                       )
                                                  )    No. 20-1703V
 v.                                               )    Special Master Horner
                                                  )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                    )
 SERVICES,                                        )
                                                  )
                Respondent.                       )
                                                  )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On November 30, 2020, Regis Grice (“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 influenza vaccine he received on October 16, 2019. Amended Petition at 1. On January 14,

2022, 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, and the same day, the Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding

petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 38; ECF No. 39.

I.     Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $35,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. This amount 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 Special Master’s decision and the

Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $35,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Regis Grice:                                 $35,000.00

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                              Deputy Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              s/ Matthew L. Murphy
                                              MATTHEW L. MURPHY
                                              Trial Attorney
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                              U.S. Department of Justice
                                              P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                                              Washington, DC 20044-0146
                                              Tel.: (202) 616-4840
                                              Email: matthew.murphy@usdoj.gov
DATED: February 10, 2022
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.
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