Court Opinion

ID: 4514081
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-09 20:02:16.060881+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:48:08.945796
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-129V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KENNETH CAPRA,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: February 5, 2020
    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)

Shealene Priscilla Mancuso, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On January 26, 2018, Kenneth Capra 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 29, 2016.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

      On July 16, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for a SIRVA. On February 4, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $67,618.15
(comprised of $67,500.00 for pain and suffering and $118.15 for unreimbursed out-of-
pocket medical expenses). Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

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).
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 $67,618.15 (comprised of $67,500.00 for pain and suffering and
$118.15 for unreimbursed out-of-pocket medical expenses) in the form of a check
payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 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

    KENNETH CAPRA,

                          Petitioner,
                                                          No. 18-129V
          v.
                                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)
                                                          ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                          Respondent.

                RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

          On July 12, 2019, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner is entitled

to vaccine compensation for his Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”)

injury suffered following receipt of an influenza vaccination on October 29, 2016. On July 16,

2019, Ruling on Entitlement, adopting respondent’s recommendation, was issued.

          Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner 1 should be

awarded $67,618.15. This is comprised of pain and suffering ($67,500.00) and past

unreimbursed out-of-pocket medical expenses ($118.15), and represents all elements of

compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 2 Petitioner

agrees.

1
    Petitioner is a competent adult, therefore evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
2
  Should Petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court
for appropriate relief.
II.    Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through:
               a lump sum of $67,618.15 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
               amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
               U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Petitioner agrees.

                                                   Respectfully submitted,

                                                   JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                   Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                   CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                   Deputy Director
                                                   Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                   HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                   Assistant Director
                                                   Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                   /s/ Adriana Teitel
                                                   ADRIANA TEITEL
                                                   Trial Attorney
                                                   Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                   U.S. Department of Justice
                                                   P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                   Washington, DC 20044-0146
                                                   Tel: (202) 616-3677

Dated: February 4, 2020