Court Opinion

ID: 4529651
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-29 12:02:26.699987+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:23:15.133737
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-728V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    BARBARA MURRAY,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: March 26, 2020
    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)

Diana Lynn Stadelnikas, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On May 23, 2018, Barbara Murray, filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Thereafter, Petitioner filed an amended Petition on September 10,
2018. Petitioner’s amended Petition alleges that her influenza (“flu”) vaccination on
October 14, 2016, caused her to suffer a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”). Amended Petition at 1-3. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On April 25, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On March 24, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $71,075.42. The
award is comprised of the following: $70,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,075.42 for

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
past out of pocket medical expenses. 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 $71,075.42 (comprised of the following: $70,000.00 for pain and
suffering and $1,075.42 for past out of pocket medical 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

 BARBARA MURRAY,               )
                               )
           Petitioner,         )
 v.                            )                    No. 18-728V
                               )                    Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )                    ECF
 SERVICES,                     )
                               )
           Respondent.         )
                               )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

 I.     Items of Compensation

       On April 24, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on

Entitlement on April 25, 2019, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for

her right-sided shoulder injury. Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that

petitioner should be awarded $71,075.42. The award is comprised of the following: $70,000.00

for pain and suffering and $1,075.42 for past out of pocket medical expenses. This amount

represents 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

          The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through

a lump sum payment of $71,075.42, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner

agrees.

          Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

                                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                                       JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                       Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                       CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                       Deputy Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       s/ Traci R. Patton
                                                       TRACI R. PATTON
                                                       Senior Trial Attorney
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                       U.S. Department of Justice
                                                       P.O. Box 146
                                                       Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                       Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                       Telephone: (202) 353-1589

Dated: March XX, 2020

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