Court Opinion

ID: 6351144
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-20 13:00:58.402011+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:37.929422
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-2015V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    WILLIAM E. WOHLLEBEN,                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: May 5, 2022
    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)

Brynna Gang, Kraus Law Group, LLC, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On December 29, 2020, William E. Wohlleben 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 17, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

        On April 29, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for a SIRVA. On May 3, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $48,500.00. Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award.

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
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 $48,500.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).

       The Clerk of 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

     WILLIAM E. WOHLLEBEN,

                Petitioner,

 v.                                                    No. 20-2015V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

        On December 29, 2020, William E. Wohlleben (“petitioner”), filed a Petition for

compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the

Vaccine Act” or “the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Petitioner alleges that he suffered a

shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) in his left shoulder as a result of an

influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 17, 2018. On April 25, 2022, the Secretary of

Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is

appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act, and on April 29, 2022, the Chief

Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF

No. 34; ECF No. 35.

I.      Items of Compensation

        Pain and Suffering

        Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $48,500.00 in actual pain and

suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

        The above amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
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 be made through a lump

sum payment as described below:

       A lump sum payment of $48,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner,

       William Wohlleben.

                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                    BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                    Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                    HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                    Deputy Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                    Assistant Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    /s/ Alexa Roggenkamp
                                                    ALEXA ROGGENKAMP
                                                    Trial Attorney
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                    U.S. Department of Justice
                                                    P.O. Box 146
                                                    Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                    Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                    (202) 616-4179
                                                    alexa.roggenkamp@usdoj.gov
DATED: May 3, 2022

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