Court Opinion

ID: 4265253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-18 20:04:28.002541+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:57.551177
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0434V
                                     Filed: January 4, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    LISA A. LINDMAN,

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

                       Respondent.

Nancy Routh Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On March 27, 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 alleged that she suffered right shoulder injuries, including
bursitis, resulting from the influenza vaccine she received on September 29, 2015.
Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

        On December 5, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for her shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”) as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. On January 4, 2018, respondent filed
a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$75,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
with the proffered 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 attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Lisa A. Lindman. 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.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

_________________________________________
                                          )
LISA A. LINDMAN,                          )
                                          )
                  Petitioner,             )
                                          )                  No. 17-434V
v.                                        )                  Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                          )                  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$75,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a

lump sum payment of $75,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     CHAD A. READLER
                                                     Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                                     C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                                     Acting Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division
1
 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the
Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future pain
and suffering.
                         CATHARINE E. REEVES
                         Deputy Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                         Assistant Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         /s/ Claudia B. Gangi
                         CLAUDIA B. GANGI
                         Senior 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) 616-4138

Dated: January 4, 2018