Court Opinion

ID: 3203902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-17 12:01:49.054551+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:28.830930
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1172V
                                     Filed: March 21, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
CAROL A. MARSYLA,                     *
                                      *
                   Petitioner,        *       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                      *       Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular, Pertussis
 v.                                   *       Vaccine (“Tdap”); Shoulder Injury
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *       Related to Vaccine Administration
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *       (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
                                      *       (“SPU”)
                   Respondent.        *
                                      *
****************************
Kate Gerayne Westad, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On October 9, 2015, Ms. Marsyla 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 received a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on November 8, 2013, and subsequently suffered a shoulder
injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 10, 2015, a ruling on entitlement was issued finding petitioner
entitled to compensation. On March 21, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) stating petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00. Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, respondent represents that petitioner agrees with the proffered award.

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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

                                                      1
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 $100,000.00, in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Carol A. Marsyla. 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

*************************************
CAROL A. MARSYLA,                   *
                                    *
                  Petitioner,       *                        No. 15-1172V
                                    *                        CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
v.                                  *                        NORA BETH DORSEY
                                    *                        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 December 9, 2015, conceding entitlement in this case. Based upon the

evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00. 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 Chief Special Master’s

decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:

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.
               A lump sum payment of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
               Carol A. Marsyla.2 This amount accounts for all elements of compensation under
               42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be entitled.

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

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                                     Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                                     RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                                     Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                                                     Deputy Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     ALTHEA W. DAVIS
                                                     Senior Trial Counsel
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     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) 616-4181
Dated: March 21, 2016                                Fax:     (202) 353-2988

2
 This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).