Court Opinion

ID: 4675166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-07 12:02:37.70221+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:24.730852
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1117V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    EVON JOHNSON,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: March 5, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

        On July 31, 2019, Evon Johnson 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 related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on November
5, 2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccination was administered
within the United States, that she suffered the effects of her injury for more than six
months, and that she has never received any compensation or filed a civil action related
to her injury. Petition at 1, 4. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

      On January 25, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for a SIRVA. On March 4, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of

1
   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
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). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $87,500.00 for pain and
suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with
the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled
to an award as stated in the Proffer.

      Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $87,500.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         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

                                                    )
 EVON JOHNSON,                                      )
                                                    )
                Petitioner,                         )
                                                    )    No. 19-1117V
 v.                                                 )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
                Respondent.                         )
                                                    )

              RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 31, 2019, Evon Johnson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or

“Act”), alleging that she suffered from a “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration

(SIRVA), an ‘on-the-table’ injury, within the requisite time period set forth in the Table (a

‘Table’ injury)” as a result of a flu vaccine she received on November 5, 2018. Petition at 1. On

January 25, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c)

Report recommending that compensation be awarded, and the Chief Special Master issued a

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation the same day. ECF No. 27;

ECF No. 28.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $87,500.00 in actual pain and

suffering. Petitioner agrees.
       This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 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 as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $87,500.00, representing

compensation for pain and suffering, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Evon Johnson.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Evon Johnson:                                $ 87,500.00

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                              C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                              Acting Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                              Acting Deputy Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

1
  Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court
for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                       s/ Sarah C. Duncan
                       SARAH C. DUNCAN
                       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) 514-9729
                       Email: sarah.c.duncan@usdoj.gov
DATED: March 4, 2021

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