Court Opinion

ID: 4094162
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-31 20:04:28.308908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:35.413041
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-219V
                                     Filed: August 15, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
ALLENE LARSON,                         *
                                       *
                   Petitioner,         *      Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.                                     *      Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis
                                       *      (“Tdap”); Shoulder Injury: SIRVA;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *      Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                   Respondent.         *
                                       *
****************************
John Robert Howie, Jr., Howie Law, P.C., Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On February 12, 2016, petitioner 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 experienced a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following receipt of her August 15, 2014 Tetanus,
diphtheria and acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On March 23, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On August 15, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $95,884.50. Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered
award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled
to an award as stated in the Proffer.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the

undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $95,884.50 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Allene Larson. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

2 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

ALLENE LARSON,                                       )
                                                     )
                      Petitioner,                    )
                                                     )
        v.                                           ) No. 16-219V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                      Respondent.                    )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.      Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

        Respondent proffers that, based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded

$95,884.50. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1); -15(a)(3)(A); and -15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

II.     Form of the Award

        The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made as a

lump sum payment of $95,884.50, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner is a

competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. This amount accounts

for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be

entitled.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

1
  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.
                         C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                         Acting Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         CATHARINE E. REEVES
                         Acting Deputy Director
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.
                         Senior Trial Attorney
                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                         s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                         LARA A. ENGLUND
                         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) 307-3013
                         E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: August 15, 2016

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