Court Opinion

ID: 6319982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-03 22:01:32.892204+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:35.437207
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-451V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    CHERI SLEETH,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: January 28, 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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On March 27, 2019, Cheri Sleeth 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”) caused by an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October
6, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

        On November 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for a SIRVA 3. On January 27, 2022, Respondent filed a 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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
3
 Respondent has no objection to the amount of the award set forth in the proffer and waived his right to
seek review of a damages decision. However, Respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Chief Special Master’s December 13, 2021, entitlement decision.
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$129,525.46 (comprised of $127,500.00 in pain and suffering and $2,025.46 for
unreimbursed expenses). Proffer at 2. 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 $129,525.46 (comprised of $127,500.00 in pain and suffering and
$2,025.46 for unreimbursed expenses) 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. 4

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                 s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                 Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                 Chief Special Master

4
  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

                                                    )
    CHERI SLEETH,                                   )
                                                    )
                 Petitioner,                        )
                                                    )   No. 19-451V
    v.                                              )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )   ECF
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                   )
    SERVICES,                                       )
                                                    )
                 Respondent.                        )
                                                    )

              RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

         On March 27, 2019, Cheri Sleeth (“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 a seasonal

influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 6, 2016. Petition at 1. On April 8, 2021, the

Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) Report

recommending that entitlement to compensation be denied. Rule 4(c) Report at 1 (ECF #41).

On November 10, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding

that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her SIRVA. 1 See Ruling on Entitlement

(ECF #51).

1
 Respondent has no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages set forth herein.
Assuming the Chief Special Master issues a damages decision in conformity with this proffer,
respondent waives his right to seek review of such damages decision. However, respondent
reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Chief Special
Master’s December 13, 2021, entitlement decision.
I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $127,500.00 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 $2,025.46. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). 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 following 2: a lump sum payment of $129,525.46, in the form of

a check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Cheri Sleeth:                 $129,525.46

2 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
                          Respectfully submitted,

                          BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                          Assistant Attorney General

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

                          HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                          Deputy Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          DARRYL R. WISHARD
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          /s/ Matthew L. Murphy
                          MATTHEW L. MURPHY
                          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) 616-4840
                          Email: matthew.murphy@usdoj.gov

DATED: January 27, 2022

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