Court Opinion

ID: 9387288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-17 16:01:21.316542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:12.614604
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-1212V
                                       Filed: March 29, 2023
                                          UNPUBLISHED

                                                                    Special Master Horner
    ALICIA SKINNER-SMITH,

                         Petitioner,                                Tetanus Diphtheria and
    v.                                                              acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”)
                                                                    vaccine; cause in fact; cellulitis;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                         Damages
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.

Richard Gage, Richard Gage, P.C., Cheyenne, WY, for petitioner.
Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

        On December 17, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood
Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), 2 alleging that the tetanus,
diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine that petitioner received on February 6,
2012, caused her to suffer an abscess, pain, and related injuries that became chronic.
(ECF No. 1.) On August 15, 2022, I issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner
entitled to compensation, but only for a local cellulitis injury and not her alleged broader
chronic injury. (ECF No. 160; see also Skinner-Smith v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., No. 14-1212V, 2022 WL 4116896 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Aug. 15, 2022).)

        I subsequently issued a Ruling on Damages that concluded petitioner should be
awarded $10,125.00 for past pain and suffering and $6,000.00 for future pain and
suffering related to her vaccine-caused cellulitis. (ECF No. 182; see also Skinner-Smith
1
 Because this document contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, it
will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. See 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). This means the document 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 the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, it
will be redacted from public access.
2
 Within this decision, all citations to § 300aa will be the relevant sections of the Vaccine Act at 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-10-34.

                                                       1
v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 14-1212, Slip op. (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 22,
2022).) On March 28, 2023, the parties confirmed that the net present value of
petitioner’s award for future pain and suffering is $5,083.00. (ECF Nos. 183-84.)

      I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $15,208.00 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/Daniel T. Horner
                                                          Daniel T. Horner
                                                          Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint f iling of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                     2