Court Opinion

ID: 4448563
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-21 20:01:51.298545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:01.310306
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           Filed: September 30, 2019

*********************
MAYA SANDOVAL,             *                                             UNPUBLISHED
                           *
                           *                                             No. 16-304V
               Petitioner, *
v.                         *                                             Special Master Gowen
                           *
                           *                                             Decision on Damages; Influenza
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                             (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                                             Related to Vaccine Administration
                           *                                             (SIRVA)
               Respondent. *
*********************

Michael A. Firestone, Marvin Firestone, MD, JD & Associates, San Mateo, CA
Camille M. Collett, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

                                        DECISION ON DAMAGES1

       On March 8, 2016, Maya Sandoval (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered a
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an
influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 18, 2013. Petition (ECF No. 1) at Preamble.

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party:
(1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that
includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to 34 (2012)
(“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42
U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
       On May 3, 2019, the undersigned held a hearing on entitlement. On July 12, 2019, the
undersigned filed a Ruling on Entitlement, to which I found petitioner was entitled to
compensation. Ruling on Entitlement (ECF No. 87).

        On September 27, 2019, respondent filed a Proffer on an award of compensation, which
indicates petitioner’s agreement to compensation on the terms set forth therein. Proffer (ECF
No. 92). I have reviewed the Proffer and do award damages in accord with it. The Proffer is
incorporated herein and made part of hereof as Appendix A. Based on the record as a whole, I
find that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

     Consistent with the terms of the Proffer, the undersigned awards the following in
compensation:

    (A) A lump sum payment of $368,730.24, representing compensation for lost earnings
       ($235,790.24), pain and suffering ($125,000.00), and past and future cleaning
       assistance ($7,940.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Maya Sandoval.

        This amount accounts for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a).

       The Clerk of the Court is directed to ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with this
decision.3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                       s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                       Thomas L. Gowen
                                                                       Special Master

3
 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).

                                                         2
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

__________________________________________
                                          )
MAYA SANDOVAL,                            )
                                          )
                                          )                 No. 16-304V
                  Petitioner,             )                 Special Master Gowen
                                          )                 ECF
v.                                        )
                                          )
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                  )
 HUMAN SERVICES,                          )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 12, 2019, Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner

suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. On July 17, 2019, the Special Master issued a

Damages Order. The items and amounts of compensation set forth herein are being proffered in

accordance with the Special Master’s Damages Order. 1

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.     Lost Earnings

       The Special Master found that petitioner has suffered a past loss of earnings and will

suffer a loss of earnings in the future, and requested that counsel “work…to solidify a number on

1
  The items and amounts of compensation being proffered are in accordance with the Special
Master’s July 17, 2019, Damages Order. Assuming the Special Master issues a damages
decision in conformity with this proffer, the parties waive their right to seek review of such
damages decision. However, respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e),
to seek review of the Special Master’s July 12, 2019, entitlement decision and/or July 17, 2019,
Damages Order.
                                                1
wage loss or come to a compromise.” Respondent proffers that the appropriate award for

petitioner’s past and future lost earnings, as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(3)(A), is $235,790.24. Petitioner agrees.

       B.      Pain and Suffering

       The Special Master awarded petitioner $125,000.00 in actual and projected pain and

suffering.

       C.      Cleaning Assistance

       The Special Master awarded petitioner $2,940.00 in past cleaning assistance expenses

and $5,000.00 for future cleaning assistance expenses.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 2 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to Maya Sandoval should be

made through a lump sum payment as described below, and request that the Special Master’s

decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:

       A. A lump sum payment of $368,730.24, representing compensation for lost earnings

       ($235,790.24), pain and suffering ($125,000.00), and past and future cleaning assistance

       ($7,940.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Maya Sandoval.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                      Assistant Attorney General

2
  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 medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                                                  2
                               C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                               Acting Director
                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                               CATHARINE E. REEVES
                               Deputy Director
                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                               ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                               Assistant Director
                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                               /s/Camille M. Collett
                               CAMILLE M. COLLETT
                               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) 616-4098

Date: September 27, 2019

                           3