Court Opinion

ID: 7806738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-06 21:02:01.714697+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:17.382005
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 20-1807V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    WALTER CORTER,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                         Filed: August 5, 2022

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

Jessica Anne Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Meghan Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                       DECISION ON DAMAGES1

       On December 9, 2020, Walter Corter 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 that as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine
received on October 30, 2019, he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1
  Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
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). This means the opinion 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2012).
         On July 5, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On August 4, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner
agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner
is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $64,136.85 (representing $62,500.00 for pain and suffering, and
$1,636.85 for past unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under Section 15(a).

       The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                 s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                 Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                 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

                                             )
WALTER CORTER,                               )
                                             )
               Petitioner,                   )
                                             )       No. 20-1807V
       v.                                    )       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                             )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                      )
HUMAN SERVICES,                              )
                                             )
               Respondent.                   )
                                             )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On December 9, 2020, Walter Corter (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

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

to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. The petition alleges that as a result of receiving an

influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 30, 2019, petitioner suffered from a left shoulder injury

related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). See Petition at 1, 4. On June 30, 2022, the

Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that

this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act. ECF No. 33. On July 5,

2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to

compensation. ECF No. 35.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $62,500.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       B.      Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past unreimbursable expenses

related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past

unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,636.85. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).

Petitioner agrees.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a

lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $64,136.85, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Walter Corter:                              $64,136.85

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                             C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                             Acting Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                             Deputy Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

1Should 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,
unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings and future pain and suffering.
                                                2
                        TRACI R. PATTON
                        Assistant Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        /s/ Meghan R. Murphy
                        MEGHAN R. MURPHY
                        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) 616-4264
                        meghan.r.murphy@usdoj.gov

DATED: August 4, 2022

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