Court Opinion

ID: 4250891
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-01 17:06:00.01981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:24.768061
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0263V
                                    Filed: November 8, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

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

                       Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Ilene Clair Albala, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On February 23, 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”) resulting from the influenza vaccine she received on October
7, 2015. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

        On October 10, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for her shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”). On November 8, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation
(“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $120,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the
Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Based

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.
2
 National 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).
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 $120,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Michele Carusotto. 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.

                                                      2
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                             )
MICHELE CARUSOTTO,                           )
                                             )
               Petitioner,                   )
                                             )      No. 17-263
 v.                                          )      Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                             )      ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                      )
HUMAN SERVICES,                              )
                                             )
               Respondent.                   )
                                             )

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       On October 10, 2017, Chief Special Master Dorsey issued an Order finding that

petitioner’s case was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to

Vaccine Administration (SIRVA). Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that

petitioner should be awarded $120,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to

which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $120,000.00, 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,

                                              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/ Ilene Albala
                                              ILENE ALBALA
                                              Trial Attorney
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                              U.S. Department of Justice
                                              P.O. Box 146
                                              Ben Franklin Station
                                              Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                              Direct dial: (202) 616-3655

Dated: November 8, 2017

1
 Should petitioner die prior to the 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.
                                                  2