Court Opinion

ID: 4034372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-16 12:02:37.698258+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:00:10.367091
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-978V
                                      Filed: July 7, 2016
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
ELISABETH MENDES,                       *
                                        *
                   Petitioner,          *     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.                                      *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
                                        *     Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *     Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *     Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                        *
                   Respondent.          *
                                        *
****************************
Ronald Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Lisa Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On September 4, 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” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from the influenza vaccination she
received on October 26, 2012. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 19, 2015, the undersigned issued a ruling on entitlement, finding
petitioner entitled to compensation for her shoulder injury. On July 7, 2016, respondent
filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be
awarded $125,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
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 attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $125,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Elisabeth Mendes. 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.

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             Case 1:15-vv-00978-UNJ Document 27 Filed 07/07/16 Page 1 of 2

               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
_______________________________________
ELISABETH MENDES,                       )
                                        ) ECF
                        Petitioner,     )
                                        )
            v.                          ) No. 15-978V
                                        ) Chief Special Master
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) Nora Beth Dorsey
SERVICES,                               )
                                        )
                        Respondent.     )
                                        )

                RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Items of Compensation

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

$125,000.00, 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

          The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $125,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                                         Respectfully submitted,

                                                         BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                                         Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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 medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
2
     Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
         Case 1:15-vv-00978-UNJ Document 27 Filed 07/07/16 Page 2 of 2

                                           RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                           Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                           Acting Deputy Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           ANN D. MARTIN
                                           Senior Trial Attorney
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           s/ Lisa A. Watts
                                           LISA A. WATTS
                                           Senior Trial Attorney
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                           U.S. Department of Justice
                                           P.O. Box 146
                                           Ben Franklin Station
                                           Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                           Tel: (202) 616-4099

Dated: July 7, 2016

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