Court Opinion

ID: 6325193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-21 17:02:03.417731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:44.513657
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1257V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ANITA BRIANT,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 17, 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)

Brittany Rose Wolf-Freedman, Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier, & Warshauer,
LLC, New Orleans, LA, for Petitioner.

Wei Kit Tai, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On September 24, 2020, Anita Briant 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 to her on
September 3, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

      On January 18, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On February 15, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $76,348.26
(comprised of $75,000.00 in pain and suffering and $1,348.26 in lost wages). Proffer at

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
2-3. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered
award. Id. at 3. 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 $76,348.26 (comprised of $75,000.00 in pain and suffering and
$1,348.26 in lost wages) 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

                                                     )
 ANITA BRIANT,                                       )
                                                     )
                Petitioner,                          )
                                                     )   No. 20-1257V
 v.                                                  )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                     )   ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                       )
 SERVICES,                                           )
                                                     )
                Respondent.                          )
                                                     )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 24, 2020, Anita Briant (“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 a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of

an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 3, 2019.

       On January 18, 2022, 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. ECF No. 23. On January 18, 2022, the Chief Special Master

issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 24.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $75,000.00 in pain and suffering.

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

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past lost wages related to

her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost

wages in the amount of $1,348.26. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

       These 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 $76,348.26, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Anita Briant:                                $76,348.26

                                              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

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
                           TRACI R. PATTON
                           Assistant Director
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                           s/ Wei Kit (Ricky) Tai
                           WEI KIT (RICKY) TAI
                           Trial Attorney
                           Torts Branch, Civil Division
                           U.S. Department of Justice
                           P.O. Box 146
                           Ben Franklin Station
                           Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                           Direct dial: (202) 598-7705
                           Wei.Tai@usdoj.gov

Dated: February 15, 2022

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