Court Opinion

ID: 4277511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-22 20:01:50.267992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:10.370613
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1326V
                                   Filed: November 17, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    MAY RUBY JOHNSON,
                                                             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.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On October 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 suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 29, 2015.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

       On May 1, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for a SIRVA. On November 17, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00
for actual and projected pain and suffering, and $542.24 for past unreimbursable
expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $85,542.24 ($85,000.00 for actual and projected
pain and suffering, and $542.24 for past unreimbursable expenses) in the form of
a check payable to petitioner, May Ruby Johnson. 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

_________________________________________
                                          )
MAY RUBY JOHNSON,                         )
                                          )
                  Petitioner,             )
                                          )                 No. 16-1326V
v.                                        )                 Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                          )                 (ECF)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

   I.   Items of Compensation

        A. Pain and Suffering

        Respondent proffers that the Court should award May Ruby Johnson a lump sum of

$85,000.00 for her actual and projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award

for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

        B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

        Respondent proffers that the Court should award May Ruby Johnson a lump sum of

$542.24 for past unreimbursable expenses, as provided under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(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 a
                                                1
lump sum payment of $85,542.24, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, which represents

all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a).1 Petitioner agrees.

                                                     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

                                                     ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                     Assistant Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     /s/ Claudia B. Gangi
                                                     CLAUDIA B. GANGI
                                                     Senior 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) 616-4138

Dated: November 17, 2017

1
  Should petitioner die prior to the 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