Court Opinion

ID: 6216986
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-09 22:01:31.966587+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:11.927544
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0394V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ANASTACIA SALCEDO,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: January 10, 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)

Michael G. McLaren, Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., Memphis, TN, for
Petitioner.

Kyle Edward Pozza, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 6, 2020, Anastacia Salcedo 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 received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
October 23, 2018, and thereafter suffered a right-sided shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On October 6, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On January 10, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $45,000.00,
for pain and suffering. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $45,000.00, (for pain and suffering) 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 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
____________________________________
                                    )
ANASTACIA SALCEDO,                  )   No. 20-394V
                                    )   Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
            Petitioner,             )   ECF
                                    )
      v.                            )
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
                                    )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On October 6, 2021, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. The same day, Chief Special Master Corcoran

issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for

her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) and related sequela.

I.    Amount of Compensation

       Respondent now proffers that, based on the Chief Special Master’s entitlement decision

and the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00, for pain and suffering.

This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

                                                1
    II.      Form of the Award

    The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made as

described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s damages decision and the Court’s

judgment award the following:     1

    A. Petitioner’s Damages

          Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through:
                 a lump sum of $45,000.00, 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.

    B. Guardianship

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

                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                                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

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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

                                                   2
                          /s/ Kyle E. Pozza_____________
                          KYLE E. POZZA
                          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) 616-3661
                          E-mail: Kyle.Pozza@usdoj.gov

Dated: January 10, 2022

                            3