Court Opinion

ID: 4323687
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-23 20:02:00.965634+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:19:43.557797
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1266V
                                     Filed: August 14, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    CHRISTINE ANN BIRCH,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                             Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On September 15, 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 she suffered a left shoulder injury following
receipt of her November 18, 2016 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On July 5, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On August 14, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00 for pain
and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
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 $100,000.00 for pain and suffering in the form
of a check payable to petitioner, Christine Ann Birch. This amount represents
compensation for all damages that would be available.

       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.

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
CHRISTINE BIRCH,                     )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 17-1266V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )   ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On June 29, 2018, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner

suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on July 5, 2018, the Chief Special

Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$100,000.00 for pain and suffering which represents all compensation to which petitioner would

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

II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

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 medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                          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

                          ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            s/Christine Mary Becer
                          CHRISTINE MARY BECER
                          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) 616-3665

Date:   August 14, 2018

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