Court Opinion

ID: 6349929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-15 13:01:40.595944+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:58.666378
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0871V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    JOHN BIRRELL-LEVINE,                                        Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: April 26, 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)

Douglas Lee Burdette, Burdette Law, Sahuarita, AZ, for Petitioner.

Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 16, 2020, John Birrell-Levine 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on November 27,
2019. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges the vaccine was received in the United
States, he suffered residual effects of his injury for more than six months, and he has not
received compensation or filed a civil action for his vaccine-related injuries. Petition at
¶¶ 3, 10, 12. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

      On October 26, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On April 26, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00. Proffer at
1. 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 $45,000.00 for 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 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

 JOHN BIRRELL-LEVINE,

                Petitioner,

 v.                                                  No. 20-871V
                                                     Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                             ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 16, 2020, John Birrell-Levine (“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”), alleging that he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of

an influenza vaccine he received on November 25, 2019. Petition at 1. On October 21, 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 SIRVA Table

injury, and on October 26, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding

petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 22; ECF No. 23.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.     Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       This amount 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 1: a lump sum payment of $45,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, John Birrell-Levine:                  $45,000.00

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                                      C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                                      Acting Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                      HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                      Deputy Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                      DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                                      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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                           /s/ Zoë R. Wade
                           ZOË R. WADE
                           Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                           Washington, DC 20044-0146
                           Tel.: (202) 616-4118
                           zoe.wade@usdoj.gov
Date: April 26, 2022

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