Court Opinion

ID: 4469856
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-07 17:01:41.230106+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:58.641636
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1728V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KATHLEEN MAHARDY,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: December 4, 2019
    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)

Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for petitioner.
Linda Sara Renzi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On November 7, 2018, Kathleen Mahardy 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 Injury (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her
on November 10, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On October 30, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On December 4, 2019, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$127,021.91 consisting of $125,00.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,021.91 for past
unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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. 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 $127,021.91, (consisting of $125,00.00 for pain and suffering, and
$2,021.91 for past unreimbursed 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

KATHLEEN MAHARDY,                             )
                                              )
               Petitioner,                    )       No. 18-1728V
                                              )       Chief Special Master
       v.                                     )       Brian H. Corcoran
                                              )       ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                           )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                              )
               Respondent.                    )
                                              )

         RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       On October 30, 2019, respondent filed a Rule 4 (c) Report conceding entitlement

in this case. On October 30, 2019, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that

petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”). Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of record,

petitioner should be awarded $127,021.91 consisting of $125,000.00 for pain and

suffering, and $2,021.91 for past unreimbursed expenses. This amount represents all

elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1); 15(a)(3)(A); and 15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be

made through a lump sum payment as described below, and request that the Chief Special

Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

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 medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
       A lump sum payment of $127,021.91, in the form of a check payable to
       petitioner, Kathleen Mahardy. This amount accounts for all elements of
       compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is
       entitled.

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/ Linda S. Renzi
                                                     LINDA S. RENZI
                                                     Senior Trial Counsel
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                     U.S. Department of Justice
                                                     P.O. Box 146
                                                     Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                     Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                     Tel.: (202) 616-4133
Dated: December 4, 2019