Court Opinion

ID: 3200370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-04 16:05:55.607536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:15.348553
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-1149V
                                    Filed: January 12, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
JOHN SCANNELL,                             *
                                           *
                     Petitioner,           *     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                           *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                           *     Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *     (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *     (“SPU”)
                                           *
                     Respondent.           *
                                           *
****************************
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On October 8, 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) in his right shoulder as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine
he received on October 28, 2014. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 16, 2015, the undersigned issued a ruling finding that petitioner is
entitled to compensation. On January 12, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation [“Proffer”] stating petitioner should be awarded $111,000.00. Proffer at 2.
In the Proffer, respondent represents that petitioner agrees with the proffered award.

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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).
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 attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $111,000.00, in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, John Scannell. 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
___________________________________
                                    )
JOHN SCANNELL,                      )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 15-1149V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On October 8, 2015, John Scannell (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on

October 28, 2014, 2 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) in

his right shoulder that was caused-in-fact by the vaccination. On December 16, 2015,

respondent filed her Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding causation-in-fact for petitioner’s

SIRVA. On December 16, 2015, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding

that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a SIRVA caused by the flu vaccine.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

       1
          This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
discuss after the Damages Decision is issued.
       2
        Based on the vaccination record filed, the correct date of vaccination is October 22,
2014. Petitioner’s Exhibit (“Pet. Ex.”) 5 at 1.
$111,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $111,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 3

Petitioner agrees.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                             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/Darryl R. Wishard
                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Senior Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U. S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: January 12, 2016                      Fax: (202) 616-4310

       3
          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.
                                                   2