Court Opinion

ID: 5130419
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-01 14:02:44.431375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:17.015007
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0203V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    SANDEEP BAINS,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 25, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On February 25, 2020, Sandeep Bains 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 he suffered from a left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on April 23, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On July 19, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On October 25, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00, for pain and
suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $45,000.00 (for pain and suffering) 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 the 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
____________________________________
                                     )
SANDEEP BAINS,                       )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 20-203V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                    )   ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Procedural History

       On July 16, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner

sustained the onset of a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) within

the Table time period following a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine and

therefore sustained an injury that is compensable under the terms of the National Childhood

Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. ECF No. 21.

Accordingly, on July 19, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding

that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for SIRVA following the Tdap vaccine he

received on April 23, 2018. ECF No. 22.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00 for pain and suffering.

       This represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 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

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $45,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Sandeep Bains:                        $45,000.00

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                      HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                      Deputy Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                      ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                      Assistant Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

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 pain and
suffering.
                                                 2
                              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
                              Christine.m.becer@usdoj.gov
DATED: October 25, 2021

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