Court Opinion

ID: 4911486
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-16 16:04:27.656055+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:32.485985
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1614V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ERICA MCNAMARA,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: August 16, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On October 16, 2019, Erica McNamara 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 a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccine that was administered to her on June 9, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On June 3, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On August 16, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $63,378.28 (consisting
of $62,500.00 for past pain and suffering and $878.28 for past unreimbursed expenses).
1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
Proffer at 1-2. 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 $63,378.28 (consisting of $62,500.00 for past pain and suffering
and $878.28 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 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
___________________________________
                                    )
ERICA MCNAMARA,                     )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 19-1614V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1

I.     Procedural History

       On October 16, 2019, Erica McNamara (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left-side

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from a tetanus-

diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination administered on June 9, 2018. See Petition.

On May 27, 2021, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding a Table injury for

SIRVA. ECF No. 33. On June 3, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a ruling on

entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for SIRVA. ECF No. 34.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded a lump

sum of $63,378.28, consisting of $62,500.00 for past pain and suffering, and $878.28 for past

       1
         This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.
unreimbursed expenses. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which

petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

       Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $63,378.28, 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

                                             /s/Darryl R. Wishard
                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Assistant Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U. S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: August 16, 2021                       Fax: (202) 616-4310
                                             Email: darryl.wishard@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