Court Opinion

ID: 4678669
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-19 21:01:49.035193+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:45.850333
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0009V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    BRANDEN RICHTER,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: March 18, 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)

Jerome A. Konkel, Samster, Konkel & Safran, S.C., Milwaukee, WI, for Petitioner.

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On January 2, 2019, Branden Richter 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 from a left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following his receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination
on October 25, 2017. Petition at 6. Petitioner further alleges that he experienced the
symptoms of his vaccine related injury for more than six months. Petition at 6. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 22, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On March 18, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $70,000.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $70,000.00, 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/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

__________________________________________
                                          )
BRANDEN RICHTER,                          )
                                          )
                  Petitioner,             )
                                          )                    No. 19-09V
v.                                        )                    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                          )                    ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 22, 2020, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report, in which he conceded that

petitioner sustained a Table left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) from

the flu vaccine administered on October 25, 2017; that the records show that the case was timely

filed; that the vaccine was received in the United States; and that petitioner satisfies the statutory

severity requirement by suffering the residual effects or complications of his injury for more than

six months after vaccine administration. ECF No. 33. That same day, the Court issued a Ruling

on Entitlement, finding that petitioner is entitled to compensation. ECF No. 34.

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$70,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

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

1Should 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.
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 of $70,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

                                             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

                                             /s/ Claudia B. Gangi
                                             CLAUDIA B. GANGI
                                             Senior Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U.S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box 146
                                             Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Tel.: (202) 616-4138
                                             Email: claudia.gangi@usdoj.gov

Dated: March 18, 2021