Court Opinion

ID: 4126003
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-14 21:02:29.69124+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:21:37.929412
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-1426V
                                    Filed: October 27, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
MARCELLA BENNETT,                        *
                                         *
                     Petitioner,         *
                                         *      Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.                                       *      Influenza Vaccine (“Flu Vaccine”);
                                         *      Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                      *      Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                      *      Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                         *
                     Respondent.         *
                                         *
****************************
Robert Bates, III, Law Offices of Tony Seaton, PLLC, Johnson City, TN, for petitioner.
Glenn MacLeod, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On November 24, 2015, Marcella Bennett (“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” or “Program”). Petitioner alleged that she
suffered “injuries, including left shoulder injuries, rotator cuff impingement and partial
tear of the anterior supraspinatus tendon, resulting from adverse effects of a [sic]
influenza vaccination received on December 5, 2012.” Petition at 1; accord. Petition at
¶¶ 1-5, 8. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

        On April 4, 2016, the undersigned issued a ruling on entitlement, finding
petitioner entitled to compensation. (ECF No. 29). On October 27, 2016, respondent

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be
awarded $125,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that
petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. 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 $125,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Marcella Bennett. 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

*************************
                          *
MARCELLA BENNETT,         *
                          *
              Petitioner, *
                          *
v.                        *                           No. 15-1426V (ECF)
                          *                           CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
                          *                           NORA BETH DORSEY
SECRETARY OF HEALTH       *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,       *
                          *
              Respondent. *
*************************

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

        On April 4, 2016, the Chief Special Master found that a preponderance of the medical

evidence indicates that petitioner suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), which was causally related to the influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on

December 5, 2012. The parties now address the amount of compensation to be awarded in this

case.

I.      Items of Compensation

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

$125,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

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

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 and future pain and suffering.
II.    Form of the Award

       Petitioner is a competent adult. Accordingly, the parties recommend that the

compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of

$125,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                             CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                             Acting Deputy Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             LYNN E. RICCIARDELLA
                                             Senior Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              s/ GLENN A. MACLEOD
                                             GLENN A. MACLEOD
                                             Senior Trial Counsel
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U.S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Tel.: (202) 616-4122

DATE: October 27, 2016

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