Court Opinion

ID: 4640999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-09 18:02:21.834109+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:00:18.853566
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0719V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    GERI MEYER,                                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 4, 2020
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) Vaccine;
                                                                Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On May 16, 2019, Geri Meyer 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 which meets the Table definition of SIRVA and was caused in fact by the
tetanus diphtheria vaccine she received on September 27, 2017. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 16.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 23, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On October 28, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00,
representing compensation for her pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer,

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. 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 $90,000.00, representing compensation for her pain and suffering
in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for
all damages that would be available under § 15(a).

       The clerk of the 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
__________________________________________
                                           )
GERI MEYER,                                )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                          )   No. 19-719V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                  RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

         On September 22, 2020, respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed

his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation in this matter alleging a Shoulder

Injury Related to Vaccine Administration following a tetanus vaccination. The following day,

the Court entered its Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner Geri Meyer entitled to Vaccine

Act compensation. Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive a compensation award

consisting of a lump sum of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Geri

Meyer. 1 This amount consists entirely of pain and suffering, and represents compensation for all

elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled. 2

         Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $90,000.00. 3

1
    Petitioner is a competent adult. No guardianship is required.
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.
3
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).
                              Respectfully submitted,

                              JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK
                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                              CATHARINE E. REEVES
                              Deputy Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                              Assistant Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              s/Voris E. Johnson, Jr.
                              VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.
                              Senior Trial Attorney
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                              U.S. Department of Justice
                              P.O. Box 146
                              Ben Franklin Station
                              Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                              Direct dial: (202) 616-4136

Dated: October 28, 2020

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