Court Opinion

ID: 4315750
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-26 20:02:16.247596+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:29.786029
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1107V
                                      Filed: June 28, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JENNIFER GREEN,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                             Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On August 16, 2017, 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 right shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) due to her October 1, 2016 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

       On May 11, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On June 28, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00. Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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

2National 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).
award. 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 $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Jennifer Green. 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

JENNIFER GREEN,

                        Petitioner,

            v.                                          No. 17-1107V
                                                        Chief Special Master Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 ECF-SPU
HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.

                 RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On August 16, 2017, Jennifer Green (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury

compensation alleging that she suffered a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), a Table injury, following receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on

October 1, 2016. Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation

on May 10, 2018. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement on May 11, 2018.

       I.         Items of Compensation

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

$90,000.00 for her pain and suffering, which represents all elements of compensation to which

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

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 damages.

                                                 1
         II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               CHAD A. READLER
                                               Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                               CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                               Deputy Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                               Assistant Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               s/Lisa A. Watts
                                               LISA A. WATTS
                                               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) 616-4099

DATED: June 28, 2018

2
    Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
                                                 2