Court Opinion

ID: 4510795
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-02-27 13:01:36.63678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:32.234616
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1423V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    JACQUELINE STAGGERS,                                      Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: January 22, 2020
    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)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On September 18, 2018, Jacqueline Staggers 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 receiving an influenza (“flu”)
vaccine on October 5, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On January 21, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On January 22, 2020, Respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$161,967.55, representing compensation in the amount of $160,000.00 for Petitioner’s
pain and suffering and $1,967.55 for Petitioner’s past lost wages. Proffer at 1. In the

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

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).
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 $161,967.55, representing compensation in the amount of
$160,000.00 for Petitioner’s pain and suffering and $1,967.55 for Petitioner’s
actual lost wages 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

                                                   )
 JACQUELINE STAGGERS,                              )
                                                   )
                Petitioner,                        )
                                                   )     No. 18-1423V
 v.                                                )     Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                   )     ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                     )
 SERVICES,                                         )
                                                   )
                Respondent.                        )
                                                   )
                                                   )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

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

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 34. Thereafter, on January 21, 2020,

Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was

entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration

(“SIRVA”). ECF No. 38.

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$161,967.55. The award is comprised of the following: $160,000.00 for pain and suffering and

$1,967.55 for past lost wages. Petitioner represents that she has not incurred past

unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. 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 $161,967.55, 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

                                                       ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       /s/ LYNN C. SCHLIE
                                                       Lynn C. Schlie
                                                       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) 616-3667
                                                       Fax: (202) 616-4310

Dated: January 22, 2020