Court Opinion

ID: 6323121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-14 21:01:35.293087+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:25.411624
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1647V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    JANIS GEIST,                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 11, 2022
    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)

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On November 23, 2020, Janis Geist filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table Injury, after receiving the influenza (“flu”)
vaccine on September 21, 2019. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 11. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On January 5, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her SIRVA. On February 11, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $51,368.06,
representing $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,368.06 for past unreimbursable
expenses. Proffer at 1-2. 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.

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $51,368.06, representing $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$1,368.06 for past unreimbursable 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 Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.2

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

2 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
__________________________________________
                                           )
JANIS GEIST,                               )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                          )   No. 20-1647V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On November 23, 2020, Janis Geist (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under

the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act”

or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration

(“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza

vaccine she received on September 21, 2019. Petition at 1. On January 5, 2022, the Secretary of

Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is

appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury, and on

January 5, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner

entitled to compensation. ECF No. 17; ECF No. 18.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.     Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       B.      Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,368.06. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

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

II.    Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a

lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $51,368.06, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Amy Hansen:                                  $51,368.06

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                                      C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                                      Acting 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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                              Deputy Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                              Assistant Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              /s/ Zoë R. Wade
                              ZOË R. WADE
                              Trial Attorney
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                              U.S. Department of Justice
                              P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                              Washington, DC 20044-0146
                              Tel.: (202) 616-4118
                              zoe.wade@usdoj.gov
Date: February 11, 2022

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