Court Opinion

ID: 7806737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-06 21:01:59.35082+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:17.380013
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-815V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ERIN LYNN GILLASPY,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: August 5, 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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Ronalda Elnetta Kosh, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On July 6, 2020, Erin Lynn Gillaspy 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 right shoulder injury (SIRVA)
resulting from the adverse effects of an influenza (flu) vaccination she received on August
27, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

        On November 22, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 4, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $45,056.90
(comprised of $45,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $56.90 for past unreimbursable
expenses). Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $45,056.90 (comprised of $45,000.00 for pain and suffering, and
$56.90 for past unreimbursable 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.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
____________________________________
                                     )
ERIN LYNN GILLASPY,                  )
                                     )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 20-815V
      v.                             )  Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.              )
____________________________________)

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 6, 2020, Erin Lynn Gillaspy (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”).

See 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to

Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered in

her right shoulder on August 27, 2018. See Petition at 1. On November 8, 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, and on

November 22, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner

entitled to compensation. ECF No. 23; ECF No. 24; ECF No. 26.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00 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 his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $56.90. 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

one 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 $45,056.90, in the form

of a check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Erin Lynn Gillaspy:           $45,056.90

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                                      C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                                      Acting 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 pain and
suffering.
                                                  2
                            HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                            Deputy Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                            Assistant Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            s/ Ronalda E. Kosh
                            RONALDA E. KOSH
                            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) 616-4476
                            Email: ronalda.kosh@usdoj.gov
DATED: August 4, 2022

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