Court Opinion

ID: 4284264
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-14 12:01:15.541263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:28.028062
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-244V
                                     Filed: March 30, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    LAURA ROETGERMAN,
                                                             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.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On February 21, 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 that she received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
December 17, 2015, and subsequently suffered “left shoulder injuries” as a result of the
flu vaccination. 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
(“SIRVA”). On March 30, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation
(“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $73,580.68 representing
compensation for pain and suffering ($72,500.00), and past unreimbursable expenses

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
($1,080.68). Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner
agrees 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 $73,580.68 representing compensation for pain
and suffering ($72,500.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($1,080.68), in the
form of a check payable to petitioner, Laura Roetgerman. 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

 LAURA ROETGERMAN,

                Petitioner,                           No. 17-244V
 v.                                                   Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                      ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

                              PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

       On February 21, 2017, Laura Roetgerman (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Respondent conceded petitioner’s entitlement to

compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on November 14, 2017. Based on Respondent’s Rule

4(c) Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.

I.    Items of Compensation

      A.       Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $72,500.00 in actual and projected

pain and suffering. This amount reflects that any award for projected pain and suffering has

been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

       B.      Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable

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

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,080.68. Petitioner agrees.

                                                1
II.    Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $73,580.68 representing compensation for pain and suffering

($72,500.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($1,080.68), in the form of a check payable to

petitioner. 1 This lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner

would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

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

                                              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

                                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               s/Jennifer L. Reynaud
                                              JENNIFER L. REYNAUD
                                              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) 305-1586
Date: March 30, 2018

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 pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

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