Court Opinion

ID: 4359122
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-16 13:01:19.895228+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:31.285626
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1872V
                                   Filed: November 29, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    SARA ZUTTER,

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

Brenton Aaron Elswick, Maglio Christopher & Toale, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On December 4, 2017, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 30, 2016.
Petition at ¶¶1, 4. The petitioner also alleges that neither she nor any other party has
ever brought an action or received compensation in the form of an award of settlement
for her vaccine-related injuries. Id. at ¶¶15, 16. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On August 16, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On November 29, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $82,500.00,
representing $80,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,500.00 for unreimbursed medical
expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
with the proffered award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that
petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Id.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $82,500.00, representing $80,000.00 for pain
and suffering and $2,500.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses, in the form of a
check payable to petitioner, Sara Zutter. 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. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

2 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
___________________________________
                                    )
SARA ZUTTER,                        )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 17-1872V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On December 4, 2017, Sara Zutter (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on

September 30, 2016, she suffered from a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-4. On August 16, 2018, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report,

conceding that petitioner’s alleged injury meets the Table criteria for SIRVA. On August 16,

2018, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled

to compensation for SIRVA.

II.    Items of Compensation

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

a lump sum of $82,500.00 ($80,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,500.00 for unreimbursed

       1
         This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.
medical expenses) for all damages. This amount represents all elements of compensation to

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

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $82,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

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

                                             GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                                             Assistant Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             /s/Darryl R. Wishard
                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Senior Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U. S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: November 29, 2018                     Fax: (202) 616-4310

       2
          Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.

                                                 2