Court Opinion

ID: 4163697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-27 12:06:05.1471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:54:58.396320
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-609V
                                   Filed: December 21, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
KATHLEEN NOLAN,                      *
                                     *
                   Petitioner,       *      Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.                                   *      Influenza (“Flu”); Shoulder Injury
                                     *      Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                  *      (“SIRVA”); Special Processing
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                  *      Unit (“SPU”)
                                     *
                   Respondent.       *
                                     *
****************************
John DeFazio, Viola Cummings and Lindsay, LLP, Niagara Falls, NY, for petitioner.
Gordon Shemin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 24, 2016, 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 September 16, 2013 influenza (“flu”) vaccine.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

        On August 15, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for a SIRVA. On December 20, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $120,416.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees 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.
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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $120,416.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Kathleen Nolan. 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
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
KATHLEEN NOLAN,                      )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )  No. 16-609V
                                     )  Chief Special Master Dorsey
      v.                             )  ECF
                                     )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.              )
                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       For purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine-related” is as described in Respondent’s

Rule 4(c) Report, filed on August 11, 2016, conceding entitlement in this case. Based upon the

evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $120,416.00. This

represents all elements of competition to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a) for her vaccine-related injury. 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment described below, and request that the Special Master’s decision

and the Court’s judgment award the following:

               A lump sum of $120,416.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Kathleen
               Nolan. This amounts accounts for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C.
               § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be entitled.

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

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                                     Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                     CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                     Acting Deputy Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     ANN D. MARTIN
                                                     Senior Trial Attorney
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     /s/ Gordon Shemin
                                                     GORDON SHEMIN
                                                     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) 616-4208
Dated: December 20, 2016                             Fax: (202) 353-2988

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