Court Opinion

ID: 4439442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-18 20:01:53.697956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:12.540183
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-776V
                                      Filed: June 26, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DIANE FEDORCHAK,

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

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 12, 2017, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., (the “Vaccine
Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her December 8, 2015 influenza (“Flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

       On June 26, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On June 24, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation indicating petitioner should be awarded $631.02 in compensation for
unreimbursable medical expenses, $100,000.00 in compensation for petitioner’s actual
and projected pain and suffering, and $26,432.92 for petitioner’s lost earnings, for a
total award of $127,063.94. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on Award of

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
Compensation (“Proffer”) at 3-4. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner
agrees with the proffered award. Id. 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 $127,063.94 (representing $631.02 in compensation for
unreimbursable medical expenses, $100,000.00 in compensation for petitioner’s
actual and projected pain and suffering, and $26,432.92 in compensation for
petitioner’s lost wages) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Diane
Fedorchak. 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. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

2 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