Court Opinion

ID: 6660422
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:01:28.80065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:14.400656
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-1925V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    KATHLYN BIRCH,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: June 15, 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)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On December 17, 2018, Kathlyn Birch 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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccine that was administered
to her on October 6, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 19, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On June 10, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $47,500.00 in
pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $47,500.00 (for pain and suffering) 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.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.

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                  IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

*************************************
KATHLYN BIRCH,                      *
                                    *
                  Petitioner,       *                                 No. 18-1925V
                                    *                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.                                  *
                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             *
HUMAN SERVICES,                     *
                                    *
                  Respondent.       *
*************************************

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

        On November 10, 2021, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner’s

claim meets the Table criteria for a SIRVA injury. On November 19, 2021, the Court issued a

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act.1

I.      Items of Compensation

        Pain and Suffering

        Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $47,500.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). The above 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

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

Respondent recommends that petitioner be awarded a lump sum payment of $47,500.00, in the

form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

1
  During the pendency of this case, petitioner was married, and on June 9, 2022, the caption was amended to change
her name from Kathlyn Haynes to Kathlyn Birch.
                           Respectfully submitted,

                           BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                           Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                           C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                           Acting Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                           Deputy Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                           Assistant Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                           DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                           Senior Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146
                           Benjamin Franklin Station
                           Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                           Phone: (202) 616-4181
Dated: June 10, 2022

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