Court Opinion

ID: 4854184
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-24 16:05:54.911216+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:11:47.783067
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0060V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ERIN HARLAND,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: July 22, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Kyle Edward Pozza, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On January 21, 2020, Erin Harland 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”) as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table or, in the alternative, was
caused-in-fact by the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine she received on January 19,
2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 17.The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

     On June 22, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On July 22, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $108,753.41,

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
representing $107,500.00 for her pain and suffering and $1,253.41 for her past
unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that
Petitioner agrees with the 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 $108,753.41, representing $107,500.00 for her pain and suffering
and $1,253.41 for her past uneimburseable expenses in the form of a check payable
to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be
available under Section 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

 ERIN HARLAND,

                       Petitioner,

 v.                                                   No. 20-60V
                                                      Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                              ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On June 22, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report conceding that entitlement

to compensation was appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 21. Thereafter,

on the same date, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that

petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”) and related sequela. ECF No. 22.

I.    Amount of Compensation

       Respondent now proffers that, based on the Chief Special Master’s entitlement ruling and

the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $108,753.41. The award is comprised of

the following: $107,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $1,253.41 for past unreimbursed

expenses. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

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

                                                1
    II.      Form of the Award

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

described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s damages decision and the Court’s

judgment award the following:     1

    A. Petitioner’s Damages

          Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through:
                 a lump sum of $108,753.41, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
                 amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
                 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Petitioner agrees.

    B. Guardianship

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

                                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                                       BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                       Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                       Deputy Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

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 pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

                                                   2
                           /s/ KYLE E. POZZA_________
                           Kyle E. Pozza
                           Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                           Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                           Tel: (202) 616-3661
                           Fax: (202) 616-4310
                           Email: kyle.pozza@usdoj.gov

Dated: July 22, 2021

                       3