Court Opinion

ID: 6331750
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-14 17:03:12.279446+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:14.299944
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0733V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MICHAEL WILKINSON,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: March 11, 2022

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Proffer; Influenza (Flu); Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA).

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

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

                                       DECISION ON DAMAGES1

      On May 17, 2019, Michael Wilkinson 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 as a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
November 20, 2017, he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccination (“SIRVA”) as
defined on the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”). Petition (ECF No. 1) at Preamble. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters (the
“SPU”).

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       On January 14, 2022, I issued a ruling that Petitioner was entitled to compensation.
On March 11, 2022, Respondent filed the attached proffer on an award of compensation,
to which Petitioner agrees. 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 $50,029.74 (representing $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$29.74 for past unreimbursable expenses). This amount represents compensation for
all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).

        The Clerk of 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

MICHAEL WILKINSON,

                    Petitioner,
                                                       Case No. 19-733V (ECF)
v.                                                     CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
                                                       CORCORAN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,

                    Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.    Procedural History

      On January 14, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement,1

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 $50,029.74. The award is comprised of the following: $50,000.00 for pain and

suffering and $29.74 for medical mileage. This amount represents all elements of

1
  Respondent does not waive his right to have the Court’s Ruling on Entitlement
reviewed.
compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)

regarding his November 20, 2017, influenza vaccination. Petitioner agrees.2

III.    Form of the Award

        The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $50,029.74, 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
                                           Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                           HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                           Deputy Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                           Assistant Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

2
  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 11, 2022

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