Court Opinion

ID: 8205836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-12 21:02:18.680747+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:11.156806
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1853V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MELISSA CAPARRELLI,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: August 2, 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)

Jessica Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Mary Eileen Holmes, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On December 15, 2020, Melissa Caparrelli 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (SIRVA) resulting from the adverse effects of an influenza (flu) vaccination
she received November 11, 2019. Petition at 1-2, 5. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 2, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $99,137.40
(comprised of $85,000.00 for pain and suffering, $249.03 for past unreimbursable
expenses, and $13,888.37 for lost wages). Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $99,137.40 (comprised of $85,000.00 for pain and suffering,
$249.03 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $13,888.37 for lost wages) 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

                                                     )
 MELISSA CAPARRELLI,                                 )
                                                     )
                Petitioner,                          )
                                                     )   No. 20-1853V
 v.                                                  )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                     )   ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                       )
 SERVICES,                                           )
                                                     )
                Respondent.                          )
                                                     )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On December 15, 2020, Melissa Caparrelli (“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”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of

an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on November 11, 2019. Petition at 1. On December

10, 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 SIRVA

Table injury, and on December 29, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on

Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 20; ECF No. 21.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.     Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00 in pain and suffering.

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 petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $249.03. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

       C.      Lost Wages

       Petitioner has supplied evidence of actual lost earnings related to her vaccine-related

injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $13,888.37 for lost earnings. 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.    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 following1: a lump sum payment of $99,137.40, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Melissa Caparrelli:           $99,137.40.

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                              Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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.
                                                 2
                        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

                        /s/Mary E. Holmes
                        MARY E. HOLMES
                        Trial Attorney
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division
                        U. S. Department of Justice
                        P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                        Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                        Tel: (202) 616-5022
                        Mary.E.Holmes@usdoj.gov

DATED: August 2, 2022

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