Court Opinion

ID: 6105046
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-20 14:02:27.138705+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:46.725596
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1161V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    DEANNA GHORMLEY,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: December 20, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Jeremy Fugate, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On September 8, 2020, Deanna Ghormley 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table Injury, after receiving the influenza (“flu”)
vaccine on September 27, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶ 2.The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On November 17, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On December 17, 2021, Respondent filed a

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$53,583.53, representing compensation in the amounts of $52,500.00 for her pain and
suffering and $1,083.53 for her past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the
Proffer, 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 $53,583.53, representing compensation in the amounts of
$52,500.00 for her pain and suffering and $1,083.53 for her actual unreimbursable
expenses 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 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

*************************************
DEANNA GHORMLEY,                     *
                                     *
                   Petitioner,       *                      No. 20-1161V
                                     *                      Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.                                   *
                                     *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              *
HUMAN SERVICES,                      *
                                     *
                   Respondent.       *
*************************************

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 8, 2020, Deanna Ghormley (“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. Petitioner alleges that she received an

influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 27, 2018, and that she subsequently suffered a left

shoulder injury related to the vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) that meets the requirements of

the Vaccine Injury Table for flu vaccine. Petition at 1. On November 15, 2021, 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 for a SIRVA Table injury, and on

November 17, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner

entitled to compensation. ECF No. 24; ECF No. 25.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $52,500.00 in 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 $1,083.53. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). 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 should be made through a

lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $53,583.53, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Deanna Ghormley: $53,583.53.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                      HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                      Deputy Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                               ALTHEA WALKER DAVIS
                               Senior Trial Counsel
                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                               s/ JEREMY C. FUGATE
                               JEREMY C. FUGATE
                               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) 598-3831
Dated: December 17, 2021       Jeremy.Fugate2@usdoj.gov

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