Court Opinion

ID: 5186463
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 14:01:31.477539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:26:44.488662
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0278V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ANDREA CARRIER,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 29, 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.

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

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On March 12, 2020, Andrea Carrier 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
October 5, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

      On July 2, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On November 24, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $107,500.00 in pain
and suffering. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

2National 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).
agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 $107,500.00 (in 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

 ANDREA CARRIER,               )
                               )
                               )
           Petitioner,
 v.                            )                      No. 20-278V
                               )                      Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )                      ECF
                               )
 SERVICES,
                               )
           Respondent.         )
                               )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On March 12, 2020, Andrea Carrier (“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 flu vaccine on

October 5, 2018. Petition at 1.

      On July 2, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a

Vaccine Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the

terms of the Act for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) Table injury.

ECF No. 29. Later that day, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding

petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 30.

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $107,500.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4).
       The above 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 1 : a lump sum payment of $107,500.00, in the form of

a check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Andrea Carrier:                               $107,500.00

                                                      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

                                                      LARA A. ENGLUND
                                                      Assistant 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
                               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: November 24, 2021

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