Court Opinion

ID: 4251068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-01 21:04:40.891808+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:20.193649
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-322V
                                   Filed: November 16, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    DIANE CHANDLER,
                                                             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.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 14, 2016, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her September 24, 2014 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

      On July 21, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On November 15, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded compensation of
$82,295.30 representing lost earnings, $110,000.00 representing actual and projected
pain and suffering, and $49,216.83 representing actual and projected unreimbursed

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees
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 $241,512.13 which represents compensation
for lost earnings ($82,295.30), pain and suffering ($110,000.00), and unreimbursed
expenses ($49,216.83), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Diane
Chandler. 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
___________________________________
                                    )
DIANE CHANDLER,                     )
                                    )
            Petitioner,             )
                                    )   No. 16-322V (ECF)
v.                                  )   Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On March 14, 2016, Diane Chandler (“petitioner”) filed a Petition (“Petition”) for

compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C.

§§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered from a shoulder injury

related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on

September 24, 2014. Petition at 1.

       On July 20, 2017, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) Report, and on July 21, 2017, the

Court found petitioner entitled to compensation based on a theory of causation-in-fact.

II.    Items of Compensation

       A.      Lost Earnings

       The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, petitioner has suffered past loss

of earnings and will suffer a loss of earnings in the future. Therefore, respondent proffers that

1
  This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to discuss after
the Damages Decision is issued.
petitioner should be awarded lost earnings as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Respondent proffers that the appropriate award for petitioner’s lost earnings

is $82,295.30. Petitioner agrees.

       B.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00 in actual and

projected pain and suffering. Petitioner agrees.

       C.      Unreimbursed Expenses

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $49,216.83 in actual and projected

unreimbursed expenses. Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       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 following: 2

       A lump sum payment of $241,512.13, representing compensation for lost earnings

($82,295.30); pain and suffering ($110,000.00); and unreimbursed expenses ($49,216.83), in the

form of a check payable to petitioner.

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              CHAD A. READLER
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

2
  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 medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                                                   2
                           CATHARINE E. REEVES
                           Deputy Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                           Assistant Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           s/ Robert P. Coleman III
                           ROBERT P. COLEMAN III
                           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) 305-0274
                           Email: Robert.P.Coleman@usdoj.gov
DATED: November 15, 2017

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