Court Opinion

ID: 8373982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-18 17:01:39.530653+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:11.495404
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-2026V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MICHELLE SHEA,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: September 15, 2022
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Edward M. Kraus, Kraus Law Group, LLC, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.

Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On December 29, 2020, Michelle Shea 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 left shoulder pain after receiving the
influenza vaccine on October 14, 2019. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 21. The case was assigned
to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On June 28, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On September 14, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $47,389.34,
representing compensation in the amounts of $95,000.00 for her pain and suffering,
$4,655.94 for her past unreimbursed expenses, and $5,733.40 for her past lost wages,
offset by $58,000.00 she received to resolve a claim she had with Aurora Medical Center

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 Decision 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).
Summit and its insurance carrier as payment for items or service for which the Vaccine
Program therefore is not liable. 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 $47,389.34, representing compensation in the amounts of
$95,000.00 for her pain and suffering, $4,655.94 for her actual past unreimbursable
expenses, and $5,733.40 for her actual lost wages, offset by $58,000.00 she
received to resolve a claim she had with Aurora Medical Center Summit and its
insurance carrier as payment for items or service for which the Vaccine Program
therefore is not liable 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

MICHELLE SHEA,

               Petitioner,                           No. 20-2026V (ECF)
                                                     Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,

               Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On December 29, 2020, Michelle Shea (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34

(“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended, alleging that she suffered “injuries” following

administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 14, 2019. ECF No. 1. On

June 27, 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 for a

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined by the Vaccine Injury

Table, and, that same day, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding

petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 33; ECF No. 34.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that compensation for petitioner’s pain and suffering damages totals

$95,000.00. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       B.       Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that compensation for

petitioner’s past unreimbursable expenses totals $4,655.94. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).

Petitioner agrees.

       C.       Lost Wages

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past lost wages related to

her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that compensation for petitioner’s past lost

wages totals $5,733.40. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). 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.    Offset

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she received a lump sum of $58,000.00

to resolve a claim she had with Aurora Medical Center Summit and its insurance carrier as

payment for items or services for which the Vaccine Program is not primarily liable under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), and therefore, the $58,000.00 payment petitioner received is an offset to

her Vaccine Program award. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g). Petitioner agrees.

III.   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

                                                2
the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $47,389.34, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Michelle Shea:                       $47,389.34

                                                     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

                                                     TRACI R. PATTON
                                                     Assistant Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     s/Sarah B. Rifkin
                                                     SARAH B. RIFKIN
                                                     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) 305-5997
                                                     Sarah.Rifkin@usdoj.gov

Dated: September 14, 2022

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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
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