Court Opinion

ID: 4470764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-09 17:01:56.868862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:16.203107
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1470V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MEGAN PICKARD,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: December 6, 2019
    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)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On September 25, 2018, Megan Pickard 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 left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered
on October 28, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On August 26, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On December 5, 2019, Respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$55,135.12. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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
 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 (2012).
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 $55,135.12 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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/Brian H. Corcoran
                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                          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

                                                      )
 MEGAN PICKARD,                                       )
                                                      )
                  Petitioner,                         )
                                                      )    No. 18-1470V
 v.                                                   )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                      )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                        )
 SERVICES,                                            )
                                                      )
                  Respondent.                         )
                                                      )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Items of Compensation

          On August 23, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. Thereafter, on August 26, 2019, the Court

issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for

her shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Based upon the evidence of

record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $55,135.12. The award is

comprised of the following: $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $135.12 for past,

unreimbursed medical expenses. This amount 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

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

a lump sum payment of $55,135.12, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner

agrees.

          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

                          GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          /s/ Mollie D. Gorney
                          Mollie D. Gorney
                          Trial Attorney
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division
                          U.S. Department of Justice
                          P.O. Box 146
                          Benjamin Franklin Station
                          Washington D.C. 20044-0146
                          (202) 616- 4029
                          mollie.d.gorney@usdoj.gov

Dated: December 5, 2019