Court Opinion

ID: 4458062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-21 21:02:38.80836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:21.513234
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1967V
                                   Filed: September 23, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    CHANDRA NOVAK,

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

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On December 18, 2017, Chandra Novak (“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 suffered a right
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a tetanus-
diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine she received on February 17, 2015.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

1
  The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
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).
        On November 7, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation. On September 23, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $55,100.00,
comprised of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $100.00 for petitioner’s
unreimbursed medical expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented
that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $55,100.00 (comprised of $55,000.00 for pain
and suffering, and $100.00 for petitioner’s unreimbursed medical expenses), in
the form of a check payable to petitioner, Chandra Novak. This amount represents
compensation for all damages that would be available under § 15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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

CHANDRA NOVAK,

                  Petitioner,                          No. 17-1967V
                                                       Chief Special Master Dorsey
    v.                                                 ECF

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                  Respondent.

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

          On November 5, 2018, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. Thereafter, on November 7, 2018, Chief Special

Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine

compensation for her bursitis that was caused-in-fact by the Tdap vaccine she received on

February 17, 2015. Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should

be awarded $55,100.00, comprised of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $100.00 for

petitioner’s unreimbursed medical expenses. This amount represents all elements of

compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner

agrees.

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.
II.       Form of the Award

          The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through

a lump sum payment of $55,100.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner

agrees.

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

                                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                                       JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                       Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                       CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                       Deputy Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       s/ Mallori B. Openchowski
                                                       MALLORI B. OPENCHOWSKI
                                                       Trial Attorney
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                       U.S. Department of Justice
                                                       P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                                                       Washington, DC 20044-0146
                                                       Tel.: (202) 305-0660

DATED: September 23, 2019