Court Opinion

ID: 3178320
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-18 13:11:25.010186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:19.323347
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-605V
                                   Filed: November 17, 2015
                                          Unpublished

****************************
MERRY MOORE,                                *
                                            *
                     Petitioner,            *       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                            *       Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis
                                            *       (“Tdap”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *       Related to Vaccine Administration
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *       (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
                                            *       (“SPU”)
                                            *
                     Respondent.            *
                                            *
****************************
Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, for petitioner.
Ann Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On June 15, 2015, petitioner, Merry Moore, filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq.,2 [the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that as a result of a Tetanus-
Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis [“Tdap”] vaccination on August 9, 2012, she suffered a
shoulder injury. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 30, 2015, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On November 17, 2015, respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation [“Proffer”] indicating petitioner should be awarded
$115,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees
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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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).
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 $115,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Merry Moore. 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
____________________________________
                                     )
MERRY MOORE,                         )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                    )   No. 15-605V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )   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

$115,000.00, 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 $115,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                                      Principal Deputy 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 pain and
suffering.
                               VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                               Deputy Director
                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                               MICHAEL P. MILMOE
                               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
                               Tel.: (202) 307-1815

DATED: November 17, 2015

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