Court Opinion

ID: 3200229
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-04 12:06:01.352067+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:00.965907
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1077V
                                     Filed: January 6, 2016
                                          Unpublished

****************************
DAVID J. LARSON,                       *
                                       *
                   Petitioner,         *     Ruling on Entitlement; Damages
                                       *     Decision Based on Proffer;
                                       *     Concession; Trivalent Influenza (“Flu”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *     Vaccination; Shoulder Injury Related
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *     to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”);
                                       *     Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                   Respondent.         *
                                       *
****************************
Kate Westad, Lommen, Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for petitioner.
Lara Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

         RULING ON ENTITLEMENT AND DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On September 25, 2015, 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 he “suffered from a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) adverse reaction” resulting from the seasonal
trivalent influenza vaccine he received on October 11, 2012. Petition at 1. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On January 4, 2016, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on
Damages in which she concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case.
Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on Damages at 1 (ECF No. 12).
Specifically, respondent “agrees that petitioner’s SIRVA was caused-in-fact by the flu
vaccination he received on October 11, 2012.” Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees
“[n]o other causes for petitioner’s SIRVA were identified, . . . the statutory six month

1 Because this unpublished ruling and decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this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, 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 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).
sequela requirement has been satisfied, . . . [and] petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. (citations omitted).

        Additionally, “[r]espondent proffers that, based on the evidence of record,
petitioner should be awarded $69,506.00” in compensation. Respondent’s Rule 4(c)
Report and Proffer on Damages at 3. Respondent represents that petitioner agrees
with the proffered award. Id.

      In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. Further, based on
the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award
as stated in Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on Damages.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on
Damages, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $69,506.00
in the form of a check payable to petitioner, David J. Larson.3 This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

3“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, future
pain and suffering, and future lost wages.” Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on Damages at 4.

4 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.

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