Court Opinion

ID: 7801745
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-18 17:01:39.633728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:20.547045
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1709V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    BARBARA BENSON,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: July 18, 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)

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On November 30, 2020, Barbara Benson 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table injury, after receiving the influenza vaccine on
October 12, 2019. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On April 26, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her SIRVA. On July 18, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $61,740.66,
representing $60,000.00 for her pain and suffering and $1,740.66 for her past
unreimburseable expenses. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $61,740.66, representing $60,000.00 for her pain and suffering and
$1,740.66 for her actual unreimburseable expenses 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

    BARBARA BENSON,

                 Petitioner,

    v.                                                 No. 20-1709V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                            ECF
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                 Respondent.

                RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1

I.       Procedural History

         On November 30, 2020, Barbara Benson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for

compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.

§§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended. She alleges that she sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to

Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table

time period following administration of an Influenza vaccine she received on October 12,

2019. See Petition. On April 25, 2022, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report,

indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a

SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 30. On April 26, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a

ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a SIRVA Table

injury. ECF No. 31.

1
 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address
after the Damages Decision is issued.
II.    Items of Compensation

       A. Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $60,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

       B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,740.66. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

       These amounts represent 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 following2: a lump sum payment of $61,740.66, in the

form of a check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Barbara Benson: $61,740.66

2
 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.
                       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

                       LARA A. ENGLUND
                       Assistant Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       s/ Tyler C. King
                       TYLER C. KING
                       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) 305-0730
                       Tyler.King@usdoj.gov
Dated: July 18, 2022