Court Opinion

ID: 4707299
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-28 21:04:02.72054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:43.087154
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1395V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MATTHEW KARP,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: June 21, 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)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On September 12, 2019, Matthew Karp 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
October 22, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

      On March 12, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On June 21, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $61,025.00 (comprised
of $60,000.00 in actual pain and suffering and $1025.00 for past unreimbursed

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $61,025.00 (comprised of $60,000.00 in actual pain and suffering
and $1025.00 for past unreimbursed expenses) 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

 MATTHEW KARP,

                Petitioner,                            No. 20-1395V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
 v.                                                    ECF

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 12, 2019, Matthew Karp (“petitioner”), filed a Petition for compensation

under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the Vaccine Act” or

“the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, alleging that he suffered a shoulder injury related to

vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) in his left shoulder as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine

administered on October 22, 2018. Petition (“Pet.”) at 1. On March 11, 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, and the Chief Special Master issued a

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation on March 12, 2021. ECF No.

23; ECF No. 25.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that Matthew Karp should be awarded $60,000.00 in actual pain and

suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       B.      Past Unreimbursed Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents his expenditure of past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that the petitioner is entitled

to past unreimbursed expenses in the amount of $1025.00. Petitioner agrees.

       The above amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

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 be made through a lump

sum payment as described below:

       A lump sum payment of $61,025.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner,

       Matthew Karp.

                                                      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

                                                      ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                      Assistant Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                 2
                           /s/ Alexa Roggenkamp
                           ALEXA ROGGENKAMP
                           Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146
                           Benjamin Franklin Station
                           Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                           (202) 616-4179
                           alexa.roggenkamp@usdoj.gov

DATED: June 21, 2021

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