Court Opinion

ID: 5120295
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-22 13:02:34.604362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:16.891666
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1290V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    AZIZA WALKER,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: September 21, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Althea Walker Davis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On August 27, 2019, Aziza Walker2 filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. 3 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a right 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 February 9, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her right shoulder SIRVA injury. ECF No. 30. On September 20,
2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating
Petitioner should be awarded $87,500.00 for her pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 At the time of filing, Petitioner’s name was Aziza Adams. ECF No. 1. On August 18, 2021, the caption of

the case was changed to reflect her name change to Aziza Walker. ECF No. 41.

3National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $87,500.00 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                         s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Chief Special Master

4 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

AZIZA WALKER,                               )
                                            )
              Petitioner,                   )       No. 19-1290V
                                            )       Chief Special Master
       v.                                   )       Brian H. Corcoran
                                            )       SPU
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         )
                                            )
              Respondent.                   )
                                            )

            RESPONDENT'S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On August 27, 2019, Aziza Walker 1 (“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 February 8, 2021. ECF No. 29. Based on

Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report, on February 9, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran found

petitioner entitled to compensation for her right shoulder SIRVA injury. ECF No. 30.

I.    Items of Compensation

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

$87,500.00 for petitioner’s pain and suffering. This 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

1
  At the time that the petition was filed, petitioner’s name was Aziza Adams. ECF No. 1. On
August 18, 2021, the Court granted petitioner’s motion to amend the caption of her case to
reflect her name change to Aziza Walker, following the dissolution of her marriage. ECF No.
41.
through a lump sum payment of $87,500.00, in the form of a check made payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

       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

                                                      s/Althea Walker Davis
                                                     ALTHEA WALKER DAVIS
                                                     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) 616-0515
                                                     Althea.Davis@usdoj.gov

DATED: September 20, 2021

2
 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.
                                                 2