Court Opinion

ID: 4243017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-07 17:04:03.172977+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:17.199828
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1654V
                                   Filed: September 20, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KERRI HALL,

                        Petitioner,                          Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    v.                                                       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Injury Related to Vaccine
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Administration (SIRVA)

                       Respondent.

Joseph Alexander Vuckovich, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
      petitioner.
Kathryn Ann Robinette, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On December 15, 2016, Kerri Hall (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder
injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) casually related to the influenza
vaccination she received on December 1, 2014. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 5. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On May 11, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On September 20, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $112,500.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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).
proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that
petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $112,500.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Kerri Hall. 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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

                                                    )
    KERRI HALL,                                     )
                                                    )
                 Petitioner,                        )
                                                    )    No. 16-1654V
    v.                                              )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                    )    ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                   )
    SERVICES,                                       )
                                                    )
                 Respondent.                        )
                                                    )

                        PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

         On May 11, 2017, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that

petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”).

I.       Items of Compensation

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

$112,500.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.      Form of the Award

         Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $112,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

1
 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the
Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future
medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                            Respectfully submitted,

                            CHAD A. READLER
                            Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                            CATHARINE E. REEVES
                            Deputy Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            ALEXIS BABCOCK
                            Assistant Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            s/ Kathryn A. Robinette
                            KATHRYN A. ROBINETTE
                            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) 616-3661
                            Fax: (202) 616-4310

DATED: September 20, 2017

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