Court Opinion

ID: 4457188
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-20 13:01:55.127042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:27.361358
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-0868V
                                   Filed: September 16, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KELLEE MATLOCK,

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

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Jeffrey T. Sprague, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 19, 2018, 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”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on July
14, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

     On July 3, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On September 13, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).

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).
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $148,963.08
(comprised of $140,000.00 for pain and suffering and $8,963.08 for out-of-pocket
medical expenses and medical mileage). Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent
represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 $148,963.08 (comprised of $140,000 for pain
and suffering, and $8,963.08 for out-of-pocket medical expenses and medical
mileage) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Kellee Matlock. 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
___________________________________
                                    )
KELLEE MATLOCK,                     )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 18-868V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On June 19, 2018, Kellee Matlock (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on July 14, 2017,

she suffered from a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition.

On July 2, 2019, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding SIRVA as a Table

injury. On July 3, 2019, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that

petitioner was entitled to compensation for SIRVA.

II.    Items of Compensation

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

a lump sum of $148,963.08, for all damages, comprised of $140,000.00 for pain and suffering,

and $8,963.08 in out-of-pocket medical expenses and medical mileage ($8,322.14 in out-of-

       1
         This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.
pocket expenses and $640.94 in medical mileage), paid in the form of a check to petitioner. This

amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $148,963.08 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

       2
          Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.

                                                 2
                            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

                            HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                            Assistant Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            /s/Jeffrey T. Sprague
                            JEFFREY T. SPRAGUE
                            Trial Attorney
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division
                            U. S. Department of Justice
                            P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                            Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                            Direct dial: (202) 616-4179
Dated: September 13, 2019   Fax: (202) 616-4310

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