Court Opinion

ID: 2731362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-09 20:01:58.05985+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:22.951004
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                     No. 14-453V
                              (E-Filed: August 18, 2014)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
RICHARD BERRISH,             *                     UNPUBLISHED
                             *
                             *
            Petitioner,      *                     Special Master
                             *                     Hamilton-Fieldman
         v.                  *
                             *                     Influenza Vaccination; Shoulder
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND      *                     Injury Related to Vaccine
 HUMAN SERVICES,             *                     Administration (“SIRVA”); Decision;
                             *                     Proffer.
            Respondent.      *                     .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller, Brazil, LLP, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                        DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On May 27, 2014, Petitioner, Richard Berrish, filed a petition seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine
Program”). Petitioner alleged that the administration of an influenza vaccination
administered on October 11, 2012, caused Petitioner to suffer a shoulder injury related to

       1
           Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this decision on the
United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at
44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14
days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1)
that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or
confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Otherwise, “the entire”
decision will be available to the public. Id.

                                              1
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”).2

       The parties agreed and submitted in a proffer, filed on August 18, 2014, that based
on the evidence of record, Petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00. This amount
represents all elements of compensation to which Petitioner would be entitled under 42
U.S.C. §300aa-15(a)(1); 15(a)(3)(B); and 15(a)(4).

       The undersigned finds said proffer reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

       The proffer awards:

       A lump sum total of $50,000.00, in the form of a check payable to
       Petitioner, Richard Berrish. This amount represents all damages available
       under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a) to which Petitioner would be entitled.

Proffer Section II, III.

       The undersigned approves the requested amounts for Petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                 s/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                 Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                 Special Master

       2
         The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755,
codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34 (West 1991 & Supp. 2002)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the
Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa.
       3
           Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is 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
___________________________________
                                    )
RICHARD BERRISH,                    )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 14-453V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On May 27, 2014, Richard Berrish (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under

the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (the “Vaccine Act”), as amended. 42 U.S.C.

§§ 300aa-1 et seq. Petitioner alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on

October 11, 2012, he suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”) in his left shoulder and arm. Petitioner alleges a theory based on causation-in-fact.

       On August 11, 2014, respondent filed her Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding causation-

in-fact for petitioner’s SIRVA. On August 12, 2014, the Special Master issued a ruling on

entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a SIRVA caused by the flu

vaccine.

II.    Items of Compensation

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

$50,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

       1
          This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
discuss after the Damages Decision is issued.
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $50,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             STUART F. DELERY
                                             Assistant Attorney General

                                             RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                             Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                                             Deputy Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             GLENN A. MACLEOD
                                             Senior Trial Counsel
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             /s/Darryl R. Wishard
                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U. S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: August 18, 2014                       Fax: (202) 616-4310

       2
           Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
                                                   2