Court Opinion

ID: 2791942
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-08 05:01:43.53132+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:58.544975
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                       No. 14-556V
                                  Filed: March 17, 2015
                                  (Not to be published)

***********************
JOEL VESSEY,                           *
                                       *
                   Petitioner,         *      Decision on Damages; Flu;
v.                                     *      SIRVA.
                                       *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                   Respondent.         *
                                       *
***********************
Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA for petitioner.
Althea W. Davis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                                DECISION ON DAMAGES1

Gowen, Special Master:

       On June 30, 2014, Joel Vessey (“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”]. The petition alleges that he suffered a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”)
1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I
intend to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as
amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has
14 days to identify and move to delete 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 delete such material from public access.
2
 National 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 (2006).

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vaccination on October 24, 2011. Petition at Intro. On September 26, 2014, respondent
filed a Rule 4(c) Report [“Respondent’s Report”], in which she conceded that petitioner is
entitled to compensation under the Program. Respondent’s Report at 2. The undersigned
issued a Ruling on Entitlement on September 26, 2014 finding that petitioner is entitled to
compensation.

       On March 16, 2015, respondent filed a Proffer indicating that petitioner has agreed
to an award of compensation in the amount of $80,000. The undersigned’s chambers
contacted petitioner’s counsel on March 17, 2015, and he confirmed petitioner’s agreement
with the proposed compensation amount. Pursuant to the terms in the attached Proffer, the
undersigned awards petitioner the following compensation for all damages that would
be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a):

       1. A lump sum payment of $80,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
          petitioner, Joel Vessey.

        The clerk of the court shall enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                     s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                     Thomas L. Gowen
                                     Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

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

JOEL VESSEY,                                 )
                                             )
                Petitioner,                  )       No. 14-556V
                                             )       Special Master
         v.                                  )       Thomas L. Gowen
                                             )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                          )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          )
                                             )
                Respondent.                  )
                                             )

              RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.       Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

         Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded

$80,000.00. This 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

         The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment as described below, and request that the special master’s decision

and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

      A. A lump sum payment of $80,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Joel
         Vessey. This amount accounts for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C.
         § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be entitled.

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

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 medical
expenses and future pain and suffering.
                       Respectfully submitted,

                       BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                       Acting Assistant Attorney General

                       RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                       Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                       Deputy Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       LINDA S. RENZI
                       Senior Trial Counsel
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         s/Althea Walker Davis
                       ALTHEA WALKER DAVIS
                       Senior Trial Counsel
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                       U.S. Department of Justice
                       P.O. Box 146
                       Benjamin Franklin Station
                       Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                       Tel: (202) 616-0515

DATED: 13 March 2015

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