Court Opinion

ID: 5136170
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-17 22:01:21.503766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:53.759995
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0186V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MARYLOU LALONDE,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                          Petitioner,                           Filed: November 16, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

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

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On February 21, 2020, Marylou LaLonde 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) after receiving the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) vaccine on May 31, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On July 12, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On November 15, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00,
representing compensation for her pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer,

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 “§” ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
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 $95,000.00, representing compensation for her pain and suffering
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 f iling of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                     2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
MARYLOU LALONDE,                     )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 20-186V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                    )   ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Procedural History

       On July 12, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner

sustained the onset of a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) within

the Table time period following a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine, and

therefore sustained an injury that is compensable under the terms of the National Childhood

Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. ECF No. 30.

Accordingly, on July 12, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding

that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for SIRVA following the Tdap vaccine she

received on May 31, 2018. ECF No. 31.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00 for pain and suffering.

       This represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III.   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 $95,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Marylou LaLonde:                              $95,000.00

                                                      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

                                                      TRACI R. PATTON
                                                      Assistant 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.
                                                 2
                               s/Christine Mary Becer
                               CHRISTINE MARY BECER
                               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) 616-3665
                               Christine.m.becer@usdoj.gov
DATED: November 15, 2021

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