Court Opinion

ID: 4494112
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-22 21:01:37.32416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:48.172505
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1399V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    AMY LINK,                                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: December 20, 2019
    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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On September 13, 2018, Amy Link 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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 29, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 17, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On December 19, 2019, Respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$66,282.30. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $66,282.30 (representing compensation in the amount of
$65,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,282.30 for unreimbursed expenses) 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
____________________________________
                                     )
AMY LINK,                            )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 18-1399V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 12, 2019, 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 September 17, 2019,

the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to

vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”).

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$66,282.30 ($65,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,282.30 for unreimbursed expenses) which

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

§ 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
II.     Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $66,282.30 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

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

                                              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

                                              HEATHER L.PEARLMAN
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                s/Christine Mary Becer
                                              CHRISTINE MARY BECER
                                              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) 616-3665

Date:      December 19, 2019

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