Court Opinion

ID: 2821977
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-30 16:02:59.075862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:39.664168
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 15-278V
                                       Filed: July 9, 2015
                                           Unpublished

****************************
JANICE SCHROEDER,                         *
                                          *
                     Petitioner,          *     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                          *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
                                          *     Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *     Administration (“SIRVA”); Special
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *     Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                     Respondent.          *
                                          *
****************************
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop, Attorney at Law, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Christine Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Vowell, Chief Special Master:

      On March 18, 2015, Janice Schroeder 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”]. The petition alleges that as a result of an influenza [“flu”]
vaccination on November 12, 2013, petitioner suffered a shoulder injury. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On June 30, 2015, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration [“SIRVA”]. On July
7, 2015, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation [“Proffer”] indicating that
petitioner should be awarded compensation in the amount of $55,000.00 for pain and
suffering and $2,380.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses. Proffer at 1.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501
note (2012)). 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
 National 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 (2006).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award petitioner a lump
sum payment of $57,380.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Janice
Schroeder. 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

                                        s/Denise K. Vowell
                                        Denise K. Vowell
                                        Chief Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                    2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
JANICE SCHROEDER,                    )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 15-278V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Vowell
                                    )   ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,380.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses, which

represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $57,380.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

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, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                       Respectfully submitted,

                       BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                       Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                       RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                       Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                       Deputy Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       LINDA RENZI
                       Senior Trial Counsel
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         s/Christine Mary Becer
                       CHRISTINE MARY BECER
                       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) 616-3665

Date:   July 7, 2015

                          2