Court Opinion

ID: 4685999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-12 12:02:45.647156+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:31.434914
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1265V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MICHAEL VANG,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: April 9, 2021
    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)

Jerome A. Konkel, Samster, Konkel & Safran, S.C., Milwaukee, WI, for petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On August 23, 2019, Michael Vang 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 left arm pain, adhesive capsulitis, and
disability which satisfies the Table definition for a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) or, in the alternative was caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine
he received on December 7, 2017. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 13-14. The case was assigned to
the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On February 25, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On April 9, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00.
Proffer at 1. The Proffer does not indicate the exact types of compensation comprising

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
this award. 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 $65,000.00 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

    MICHAEL VANG,                 )
                                  )
              Petitioner,         )
    v.                            )                    No. 19-1265V
                                  )                    Chief Special Master Corcoran
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )                    ECF
    SERVICES,                     )
                                  )
              Respondent.         )
                                  )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

    I.    Items of Compensation

          On February 25, 2021, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on

Entitlement later that day, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for his

left-sided shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Based upon the evidence

of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00. This amount

represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II.       Form of the Award

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

a lump sum payment of $65,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner

agrees.

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

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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                           Respectfully submitted,

                           BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                           Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                           HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                           Acting Deputy Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                           Assistant Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           s/Traci R. Patton
                           TRACI R. PATTON
                           Senior Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146
                           Ben Franklin Station
                           Washington, DC 20044-0146
                           Tel: (202) 353-1589
                           E-mail: Traci.Patton@usdoj.gov

Dated: April 9, 2021

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