Court Opinion

ID: 4262449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-09 20:04:20.656531+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:01.968087
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0108V
                                    Filed: January 18, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

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

                       Respondent.

Bruce William Slane, Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for
petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On January 23, 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 he received a flu vaccine on October 2, 2015,
and that he subsequently suffered a right shoulder injury that included an impingement
syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, supraspinatus tendinosis, deltoid tendonitis, a rotator cuff
arthropathy/tear, acromioclavicular synovitis, and bicipital tenosynovitis. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 30, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for his shoulder injury. On January 18, 2018, respondent filed
a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$77,403.96. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
with the proffered 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 $77,403.96 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Jeffrey Caputo. 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/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

    JEFFREY CAPUTO,

                 Petitioner,                           No. 17-108V
    v.                                                 Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                       ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                 Respondent.

                               PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

         On January 23, 2017, Jeffrey Caputo (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Respondent conceded petitioner’s entitlement to

compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on November 30, 2017. Based on Respondent’s Rule

4(c) Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.

I.       Items of Compensation

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

$77,403.96, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

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

II.      Form of the Award

         Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $77,403.96, in the form of a check made payable to petitioner. 1

Petitioner agrees.

1
 Should petitioner die prior to the 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.
                                                 1
      Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

                                            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/Jennifer L. Reynaud
                                            JENNIFER L. REYNAUD
                                            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) 305-1586

Date: January 18, 2018

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