Court Opinion

ID: 4392992
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-01 20:01:57.867628+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:58.329615
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-709V
                                     Filed: March 12, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JANNIE OWENS,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                             Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Bursitis
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 30, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her September 19, 2016 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

      On June 12, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for bursitis. On March 8, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $122,000.00. Proffer

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).

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).
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 $122,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Jannie Owens. 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

    JANNIE OWENS,

                   Petitioner,                          No. 17-709V
    v.                                                  Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                        ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                   Respondent.

                                 PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

          On May 30, 2017, Jannie Owens (“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 June 11, 2018. Based on Respondent’s Rule 4(c)

Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.

I.       Items of Compensation

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

$122,000.00, 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 $122,000.00, 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,

                                            JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                            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: March 8, 2019

                                               2