Court Opinion

ID: 5126987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-17 22:01:43.75164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:21:52.222535
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1987V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    CHARLEE MITCHELL,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 12, 2021
    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)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

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

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On December 30, 2019, Charlee Mitchell 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 Table injury – Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) – as a result of her October 29, 2018
influneza (“flu”) vaccination. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

      On May 7, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On October 6, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $55,669.14. The award
is comprised of the following: $55,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $669.14 for past
unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

2National 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).
Petitioner 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 $55,669.14 (representing an award of $55,000.00 for pain and
suffering, and $669.14 for past unreimbursed expenses) 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
____________________________________
                                    )
CHARLEE MITCHELL,                   )               No. 19-1987V
                                    )               Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
            Petitioner,             )
                                    )
      v.                            )
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
                                    )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On May 3, 2021, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate

under the terms of the Vaccine Act. On May 7, 2021, 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”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury

Table, 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 $55,669.14. The award is comprised of

the following: $55,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $669.14 for past unreimbursed expenses.

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 payment of $55,669.14, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

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

                                              TRACI R. PATTON
                                              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: October 6, 2021

                           3