Court Opinion

ID: 4262452
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-09 20:04:22.607334+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:01.985881
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-0303V
                                    Filed: January 17, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    LORA BELLE BROWN,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine;
                                                             Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 3, 2017, petitioner 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”) as a result of a Prevnar 13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
administered to her on September 3, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters

       On October 2, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for her SIRVA. On January 16, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $97,500.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.

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).
proffered award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner
is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $97,500.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Lora Belle Brown. 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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.

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               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

LORA BELLE BROWN,                                    )
                                                     )
                      Petitioner,                    )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 17-303V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                      Respondent.                    )
                                                     )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On October 2, 2017, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury

Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on October 2, 2017, the

Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       Respondent proffers that, based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded

$97,500.00. 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 the compensation provided to petitioner should be made as a

lump sum payment of $97,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner is a

competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. This amount accounts

1
  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.
for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be

entitled.

                                           Respectfully submitted,

                                           CHAD A. READLER
                                           Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                           CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                           Deputy Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                           Assistant Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                                           LARA A. ENGLUND
                                           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) 307-3013
                                           E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: January 16, 2018

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