Court Opinion

ID: 2766657
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-05 20:01:47.633748+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:28.235549
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-662V
                                    Filed: December 3, 2014
                                       Not for Publication

*************************************
GRETCHEN BRADY EBRIGHT,                     *
                                            *
             Petitioner,                    *
                                            *                    Damages decision based on proffer;
v.                                          *                    influenza (flu) vaccine; shoulder
                                            *                    injury related to vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *                    administration (SIRVA)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                            *
             Respondent.                    *
                                            *
*************************************
James R. Moyles, Harrisburg, PA, for petitioner.
Ann D. Martin, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                              DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On July 28, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2006), alleging that she suffered a left shoulder injury as a result
of the influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on November 8, 2013. On November 19, 2014,
respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and recommending compensation.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master's action in this case, the
special master intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims's website, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the
public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and
confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact
such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the
identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such
material from public access.
                                                    1
        On December 3, 2014, respondent filed Respondent’s Proffer on Award of
Compensation. The undersigned finds the terms of the proffer to be reasonable. Based on the
record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to the award as stated in the
proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached proffer, the court awards a lump sum
payment of $90,000.00, representing all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The award shall be in the form of a check for $90,000.00
made payable to petitioner.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 3, 2014                                                     /s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                              Laura D. Millman
                                                                                Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                    2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
GRETCHEN BRADY EBRIGHT,              )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 14-662V
      v.                            )   Special Master Millman
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

$90,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              JOYCE R. BRANDA
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

                                              RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                              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 medical
expenses and future pain and suffering.
                          VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                          Deputy Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          GLENN A. MACLEOD
                          Senior Trial Counsel
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          s/ Ann D. Martin
                          ANN D. MARTIN
                          Senior Trial Attorney
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division
                          U.S. Department of Justice
                          P.O. Box 146
                          Benjamin Franklin Station
                          Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                          Telephone: (202) 307-1815

Dated: December 3, 2014

                             2