Court Opinion

ID: 4255005
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-15 16:04:15.460997+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:21.061574
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-296V
                                   Filed: December 26, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    LYN GEER,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                             Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Injury Related to Vaccine
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Administration (SIRVA)

                       Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Colleen Clemons Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 3, 2017, petitioner 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”) following a tetanus vaccination she received on February 11,
2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

        On October 27, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On December 20, 2017, respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$94,352.11. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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).
with the proffered award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that
petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $94,352.11 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Lyn Geer. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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
            Case 1:17-vv-00296-UNJ Document 26 Filed 12/20/17 Page 1 of 2

                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                     )
    LYN GEER,                                        )
                                                     )
                  Petitioner,                        )
                                                     )      No. 17-296V
    v.                                               )      Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                     )      ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                    )
    SERVICES,                                        )
                                                     )
                  Respondent.                        )
                                                     )

                        PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Items of Compensation

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

$94,352.11, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.       Form of the Award

          Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $94,352.11, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner

agrees.

                                                         Respectfully submitted,

                                                         CHAD A. READLER
                                                         Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

1
 Should petitioner die prior to the 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.
                                                 1
       Case 1:17-vv-00296-UNJ Document 26 Filed 12/20/17 Page 2 of 2

                                         CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                         Deputy Director
                                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                         ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                         Assistant Director
                                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                         /s/ Colleen C. Hartley
                                         COLLEEN C. HARTLEY
                                         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) 616-3644
                                         Fax: (202) 353-2988

DATED: December 20, 2017

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