Court Opinion

ID: 4675415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-07 20:02:03.113202+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:25.778257
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                               Filed: March 1, 2021

*********************
KAVITA DESAI,              *                                             UNPUBLISHED
                           *
                           *                                             No. 14-811V
               Petitioner, *
v.                         *                                             Special Master Gowen
                           *
                           *                                             Decision Awarding Damages;
                           *                                             Influenza (Flu); Shoulder Injury
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                             Related to Vaccine Administration
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                                             (SIRVA).
                           *
               Respondent. *
*********************

Richard Gage, Richard Gage, P.C., Cheyenne, WY, for petitioner.
Camille M. Collett, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

                                        DECISION ON DAMAGES1

        On September 9, 2014, Kavita Desia (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation in
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered a
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza
(“flu”) vaccination on November 15, 2012. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1).

       On July 30, 2020, I issued a ruling finding petitioner entitled to compensation.
Entitlement Ruling (ECF No. 148). On December 21, 2020, I issued a Ruling on Damages,

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party:
(1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that
includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
opinion. Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012)
(hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereinafter, individual section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of
the Act.
awarding petitioner $125,000.00 for past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering in the
amount of $1,000.00 per year for her remaining life expectancy of 25 years, and life care plan
items. Ruling on Damages (ECF No. 159). That ruling is incorporated as if fully set forth. In
the ruling on damages, I directed the parties to file a joint status report providing the present
values of petitioner’s future pain and suffering and future unreimbursed expenses. Id. at 16. On
February 26, 2021, respondent filed a status report stating that his expert agrees with petitioner’s
expert, Dr. Mark S. McNulty that the value of petitioner’s past pain and suffering and
unreimbursed medical expenses is $126,772.62 and the present value of petitioner’s future pain
and suffering and unreimbursed future medical expenses is $101,641.46. Status Report (ECF
No. 163). Respondent also stated that he “disagrees with the discounting methodology that [I]
directed the economists to employ in this case” and “reserves the right to see further review.”).
Id.

        Therefore, petitioner is awarded a lump sum payment of $228,414.08 in the form of
a check payable to petitioner. Specifically, I find that petitioner is entitled to $125,000.00 for
past pain and suffering, $1,772.62 for past unreimbursed medical expenses, and $101,641.46 for
future pain and suffering and future unreimbursed medical expenses. This amount represents all
damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

       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
 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).

                                                         2