Court Opinion

ID: 5128660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-23 14:02:11.358851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:07.800568
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-942V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ERIN MATTHEIS,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 15, 2021
    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)

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On July 31, 2020, Erin Mattheis 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 Table injury – Shoulder Injury Related to
Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her October 7, 2019 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

      On October 7, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On October 14, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain
and suffering. Proffer at 1-2. 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1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 $90,000.00, 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 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.

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
ERIN MATTHEIS,                       )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 20-942V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Procedural History

       On October 4, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner sustained the onset of a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”) within the Table time period following an influenza vaccine, and therefore sustained

an injury that is compensable under the terms of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of

1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. ECF No. 26. Accordingly, on October 7, 2021,

the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to

vaccine compensation for SIRVA following the influenza vaccine she received on October 7,

2019. ECF No. 28.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and suffering.

       This represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III.   Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a

lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $90,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Erin Mattheis:                        $90,000.00

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                      HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                      Deputy Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                      DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                                      Assistant Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

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 pain and
suffering.
                                                 2
                              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
                              Christine.m.becer@usdoj.gov
DATED: October 14, 2021

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