Court Opinion

ID: 4308425
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-29 20:01:35.055501+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:47.455652
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0893V
                                      Filed: April 26, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KATIE R. PETERSON,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                             Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Steven I. Kastner, San Diego, CA, for petitioner.
Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 30, 2017, 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccination she received in her left
arm on September 30, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On February 13, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On April 26, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $172,500.00
for pain and suffering and $15,115.52 for lost wages, for a total amount of $187,615.52.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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

2National 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).
proffered award. 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 $187,615.52, which represents $172,500.00 for
pain and suffering and $15,115.52 for lost wages, in the form of a check payable
to petitioner, Katie R. Peterson. 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. 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

KATIE R. PETERSON,                                   )
                                                     )
                      Petitioner,                    )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 17-893V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                      Respondent.                    )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On February 13, 2018, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury

Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on February 13, 2018, the

Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

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

$172,500.00 for pain and suffering and $15,115.52 for lost wages. These amounts represent all

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

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 $187,615.52, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner is a

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.
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,

                                            CHAD A. READLER
                                            Acting 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/ 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: April 26, 2018

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