Court Opinion

ID: 6351688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-21 17:01:35.977863+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:07.269059
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1201V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    CAROLYN DEANE,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Filed: May 9, 2022

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Damages Decision based on Proffer;
                                                                Influenza (Flu); Shoulder Injury
                         Respondent.                            Related to Vaccine Administration
                                                                (SIRVA).

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Catherine Elizabeth Stolar, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On August 14, 2019, Carolyn Deane 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 4, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

        On February 12, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for a Table SIRVA. On May 9, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer
on an award of compensation (“Proffer”). 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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. 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 the following
compensation:

      A lump sum of $158,456.62 (representing for $155,000.00 for pain and
suffering, and $3,456.62 for unreimbursed expenses). 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

                                                     )
 CAROLYN DEANE,                                      )
                                                     )
                Petitioner,                          )
                                                     )    No. 19-1201V
        v.                                           )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                     )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                             )
 HUMAN SERVICES,                                     )
                                                     )
                Respondent.                          )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On August 14, 2019, Carolyn Deane (“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 she suffered “left shoulder table injuries,” i.e., a Shoulder

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

following administration of an influenza vaccine she received on October 4, 2017. Petition at 1.

On February 12, 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 February 16, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling

on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 27; ECF No. 28.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $155,000.00 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 $3,456.62. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

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

       The above amounts 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $158,456.62, in the form of

a check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Carolyn Deane:                               $158,456.62

                                              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

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
                     DARRYL R. WISHARD
                     Assistant Director
                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                     /s/ Catherine E. Stolar
                     CATHERINE E. STOLAR
                     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) 353-3299
                     Fax: (202) 616-4310
                     Email: catherine.stolar@usdoj.gov

DATED: May 9, 2022

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