Court Opinion

ID: 3208972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-02 20:03:03.361916+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:59:42.798895
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1386V
                                      Filed: April 25, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
TERRI DAVIS,                            *
                                        *
                     Petitioner,        *      Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                        *      Influenza;
 v.                                     *      Shoulder Injury (“SIRVA”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *      Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *
                                        *
                     Respondent.        *
                                        *
****************************
Jeffrey Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Lara Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On November 16, 2015, 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 following receipt of
her October 20, 2014 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to
the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On March 9, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). On
April 25, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating
petitioner should be awarded $137,986.93. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent
represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Based on 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
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 $137,986.93 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Terri Davis. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 300aa-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

TERRI DAVIS,                                         )
                                                     )
                      Petitioner,                    )
                                                     )
        v.                                           ) No. 15-1386V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                      Respondent.                    )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.      Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

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

$137,986.93. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1); -15(a)(3)(A); and -15(a)(4). 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 $137,986.93, 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

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

entitled.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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.
                       RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                       Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                       Deputy Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                       Senior Trial Attorney
                       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

DATE: April 26, 2016

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