Court Opinion

ID: 6321715
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-09 22:01:37.259605+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:26.241736
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0900V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    PAULA DOZE,                                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 4, 2022
    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)

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

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 24, 2020, Paula Doze 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”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on October 17,
2018. Petition at 1; Ex. 1 at 1-2. Petitioner further alleges that she received her vaccine
in the United States, she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six
months, and no lawsuits have been filed or settlements or awards accepted by anyone,
including Petitioner, due to her vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 21-23. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 29, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On February 3, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $102,460.32.
Proffer at 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 $102,460.32 (comprised of $100,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$2,460.32 for past 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 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

 PAULA DOZE,

                       Petitioner,
                                                      No. 20-900V
       v.                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)
                                                      ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 24, 2020, Paula Doze (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine

administration (“SIRVA”) Table injury as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on

October 17, 2018. Petition at 1.

       On December 22, 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) Table injury, and on

December 29, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner

entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 33 and 34.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

                                                1
       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 $2,460.32. 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: a lump sum payment of $102,460.32, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner. 1

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Paula Dixon: $102,460.32

                                                      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
                              DARRYL R. WISHARD
                              Assistant Director
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                              s/ Adriana Teitel
                              ADRIANA TEITEL
                              Trial Attorney
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                              U.S. Department of Justice
                              P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
                              Washington, DC 20044-0146
                              Tel: (202) 616-3677
                              Email: adriana.teitel@usdoj.gov

Dated: February 3, 2022

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