Court Opinion

ID: 4699640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-29 20:03:52.915906+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:04.533174
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1605V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    STEPHEN McGEORGE,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: May 28, 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)

Carl Joseph McCoy, McCoy & McCoy Attorneys at Law LLC, Newark, OH, for petitioner.

Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On October 15, 2019, Stephen McGeorge 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 that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of his October 24, 2018 influneza (“flu”) vaccination.
Petition at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

       On May 28, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On May 24, 2021, Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) and Proffer on
Compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00
(representing an award for pain and suffering). Proffer at 1, 4. In the Proffer, Respondent

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 4. 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 Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum
payment of $50,000.00 (representing an award for pain and suffering) 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