Court Opinion

ID: 6332575
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-18 21:02:18.925638+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:01.892978
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1250V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ANGELA BUTTLES,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: March 15, 2022

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Damages Decision based on Proffer;
                                                                Influenza (Flu); Shoulder Injury
                         Respondent.                            Related to Vaccine Administration
                                                                (SIRVA).

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

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

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On September 23, 2020, Angela Buttles 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
November 14, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On January 7, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for a Table shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”).
On March 15, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on an award of compensation (“Proffer”).
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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $55,448.00 (representing $55,000.00 for actual pain and suffering;
$398.50 for past unreimbursable expenses; and $49.50 for lost wages) 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

 ANGELA BUTTLES,

                Petitioner,

 v.                                                    No. 20-1250V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 23, 2020, Angela Buttles (“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, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to

vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) in her left shoulder as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine

administered on November 14, 2018. Petition at 1. On January 7, 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 the Chief Special Master issued a

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 29; ECF No. 31.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $55,000.00 in actual pain and

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

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $398.50. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

       C.      Lost Wages

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past lost wages related to

her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost

wages in the amount of $49.50. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

       These amounts represent 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 be made through a lump

sum payment as described: a lump sum payment of $55,448.00, in the form of a check payable to

petitioner, Angela Buttles.

       Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                    BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                    HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                    Deputy Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                2
                            DARRYL R. WISHARD
                            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: March 15, 2022

                        3