Court Opinion

ID: 5130770
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-01 21:03:09.4686+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:20.182123
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0472V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    AMY LANGE,                                                  Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 27, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
                                                                Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
                         Respondent.                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                                Administration (SIRVA)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 20, 2020, Amy Lange 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 a Tetanus (“Tdap”) vaccine that was administered
to her on December 11, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 17, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On October 26, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded (a) a lump sum

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
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). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
payment of $85,000.00, representing compensation for pain and suffering; and (b) a lump
sum payment of $1,714.23, representing compensation for satisfaction of a Wisconsin
Medicaid lien. Proffer at 2-3. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner
agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. Based on the record as a whole, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

        Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner:

    A. A lump sum payment of $85,000.00, representing compensation for pain and
       suffering, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner; and

    B. A lump sum payment of $1,714.23, representing compensation for
       satisfaction of a Wisconsin Medicaid lien, payable jointly to Petitioner and

                                      Security Health Plan
                        Badger Care Plus Medicaid Managed Care Program
                                1515 North Saint Joseph Avenue
                                          PO Box 8000
                                   Marshfield, WI 54449-8000
                             Account #SUB241098, Attn: Kay Frodl

        Petitioner agrees to endorse and mail this payment to Security Health Plan.

These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be available under
Section 15(a).

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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                         s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         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.

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

                                                  )
 AMY LANGE,                                       )
                                                  )
                Petitioner,                       )
                                                  )     No. 20-472V
 v.                                               )     Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                  )     ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                    )
 SERVICES,                                        )
                                                  )
                Respondent.                       )
                                                  )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On April 20, 2020, Amy Lange (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or

“Act”), alleging that she suffered from a “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration

(‘SIRVA’), resulting from adverse effects of a Tetanus (‘Tdap’) vaccination she received on

December 11, 2017.” Petition at 1.

       On April 6, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued an Order stating that if respondent had

not “formally indicated how he intends to proceed in this case” by May 10, 2021, petitioner

could file a motion for a ruling on the record. ECF No. 20 at 2. On May 10, 2021, the Secretary

of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a status report indicating that the case had

recently been assigned to medical personnel at the Division of Injury Compensation Programs at

the Department of Health and Human Services (“DICP”), and that respondent anticipated being

able to file a status report regarding his position by June 9, 2021. ECF No. 21. The same day,

petitioner filed a Motion for Ruling on the Record (“Motion”). ECF No. 23.
       On June 15, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) Report and Response to

Petitioner’s Motion for Ruling on the Record recommending that compensation be

awarded. ECF No. 25. On September 17, 2021, the Chief Special Master entered a Ruling on

Entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to Vaccine Act compensation for a Table SIRVA injury.

ECF No. 26.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00 in actual pain and

suffering. Petitioner agrees.

       B.      Medicaid Lien

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded funds to satisfy a Wisconsin

Medicaid lien through Security Health Plan, Badger Care Plus Medicaid Managed Care Program,

1515 North Saint Joseph Avenue, P.O. Box 8000, Marshfield, WI 54449-8000, Account #:

SUB241098, Attn: Kay Frodl, in the amount of $1,714.23. This sum represents full satisfaction

of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the Security Health Plan

may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the Security Health Plan

has made to or on behalf of Amy Lange from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the

date of December 11, 2017, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(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

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lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and

the Court’s judgment award the following1:

       A.      A lump sum payment of $85,000.00, representing compensation for pain and

suffering, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Amy Lange; and

       B.      A lump sum payment of $1,714.23, representing compensation for satisfaction of

a Wisconsin Medicaid lien, payable jointly to petitioner and Security Health Plan.

       Petitioner agrees to endorse and mail this payment to Security Health Plan.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.      Lump sum payable to petitioner, Amy Lange:                             $85,000.00
       B.      Medicaid lien payable jointly to petitioner and Security Health Plan: $1,714.23

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                              Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                              Deputy Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

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.
                                                 3
                          s/ Sarah C. Duncan
                          SARAH C. DUNCAN
                          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) 514-9729
                          Email: sarah.c.duncan@usdoj.gov
DATED: October 26, 2021

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