Court Opinion

ID: 4255393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-16 12:04:02.213164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:28.585489
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-630V
                                   Filed: December 12, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    ELIZABETH HIEBERT,
                                                             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.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 12, 2017, 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 an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
October 8, 2014. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 14, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On December 12, 2017, respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$80,260.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
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 $80,260.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Elizabeth Hiebert. 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

ELIZABETH HIEBERT,                                   )
                                                     )
                      Petitioner,                    )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 17-630V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                      Respondent.                    )
                                                     )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On November 13, 2017, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury

Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on November 14, 2017,

the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       Respondent proffers that, based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded

$80,260.00. This amount represents 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

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

lump sum payment of $80,260.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner is a

competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. This amount accounts

1
  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.
for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be

entitled.

                                           Respectfully submitted,

                                           CHAD A. READLER
                                           Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                           CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                           Deputy Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                                           Assistant Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                                           LARA A. ENGLUND
                                           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) 307-3013
                                           E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: December 12, 2017

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