Court Opinion

ID: 4283753
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-12 20:01:38.479701+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:08.430937
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-57V
                                     Filed: March 16, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DALE MACLAUGHLIN,
                                                             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.

Elizabeth Martin Muldowney, Sands Anderson PC, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On January 13, 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
October 2, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On March 16, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for a SIRVA. On March 16, 2018, respondent filed Respondent’s Rule
4(c) Report and Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Respondent’s Report and Proffer”)
indicating petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00. Respondent’s Report and Proffer
at 5. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
award. Based 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 Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner
a lump sum payment of $95,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
Dale Maclaughlin. 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