Court Opinion

ID: 5136987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-21 14:01:34.804389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:59.545908
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED

    In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0263V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    HELEN PICHARDO,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 17, 2021
    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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On March 9, 2020, Helen Pichardo 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on
October 3, 2018. Petition at 1, 6-7. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

      On August 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On November 17, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $80,000.00 for all
damages, including pain and suffering. 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.

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $80,000.00, (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 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

                                                      )
HELEN PICHARDO,                                       )
                                                      )
                       Petitioner,                    )
                                                      )      No. 20-263V (ECF)
v.                                                    )      Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                      )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                   )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                   )
                                                      )
                       Respondent.                    )
                                                      )

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.     Procedural History

       On March 9, 2020, Mindy Botts (“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, as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on October 3,

2018, she suffered from a left shoulder injury. See Petition at 1. On August 9, 2021, respondent

filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that petitioner suffered SIRVA as defined by the

Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe. ECF No. 27. On August 10, 2021, the Chief

Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to

compensation for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 28.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

a lump sum of $80,000.00 for all damages. This amount reflects pain and suffering, and

represents all elements ofcompensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

1
  This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after
the Damages Decision is issued.
                                                 1
15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       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: A lump sum payment of $80,000.00, in

the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2 Petitioner agrees.

                                              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

                                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               /s/Camille M. Collett
                                              CAMILLE M. COLLETT
                                              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) 616-4098
DATED: November 17, 2021                      E-mail: Camille.M.Collett@usdoj.gov

2
  Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for
future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.

                                                 2