Court Opinion

ID: 4312043
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-13 12:01:32.979302+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:42.430464
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0698V
                                      Filed: June 4, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    JULIUS VINE,

                        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.

Michael Avrim Firestone, Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, San Mateo, CA, for
      petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 25, 2017, 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, after receiving an influenza vaccination on September 30,
2015, he “suffered the Table Injury known as Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (SIRVA) . . . [or] [i]n the alternative . . . suffered some form of
neurological syndrome or physical injury, either or all of which was caused-in-fact by the
above stated vaccination.” Petition at 1 (internal quotations omitted); accord. id. at ¶¶ 2,
34. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

        On January 19, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for his SIRVA. On June 4, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the
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 $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Julius Vine. 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

JULIUS VINE,

                        Petitioner,

            v.                                          No. 17-698V
                                                        Chief Special Master Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.

                 RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On May 25, 2017, Julius Vine (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury

compensation alleging that he suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), a Table injury, following receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on

September 30, 2015. Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to

compensation on January 18, 2018. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement on

January 19, 2018.

       I.         Items of Compensation

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

$90,000.00 for his pain and suffering, which represents all elements of compensation to which

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

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 damages.

                                                 1
         II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                               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

                                               HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                               Assistant Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               s/Lisa A. Watts
                                               LISA A. WATTS
                                               Senior 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) 616-4099

DATED: June 4, 2018

2
    Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
                                                 2