Court Opinion

ID: 5134503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-13 22:01:57.120933+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:44.446662
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1645V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    SHANNON COBB,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 10, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                                Injury Related to Vaccine
                         Respondent.                            Administration (SIRVA)

Jason Phillip Osteen, Dempsey & Kingsland, P.C., Kansas City, MO, for Petitioner.

Lauren Kells, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On October 23, 2019, Shannon Cobb 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 (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 29, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

       On July 2, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for SIRVA. On November 9, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00 in pain and
suffering. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
with the proffered award. Id. at 1. 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 lump
sum payment of $110,000.00 (for pain and suffering) in the form of a check payable
to Petitioner. This amount represents 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.

                                                    2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
SHANNON COBB,                        )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 19-1645V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.              )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On October 23, 2019, Shannon Cobb (“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 a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”), following administration of an influenza vaccine she received on

October 29, 2016. See Petition at 1. On June 29, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human

Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for

compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury as defined in the Vaccine

Injury Table. ECF No. 31. On July 2, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on

Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 30.

I.     Item of Compensation

       Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       This amount represents 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

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

the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $110,000.00, in the form of

a check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Shannon Cobb:                                $110,000.00

                                              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

                                              ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                              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.
                                                 2
                          /s/ Lauren Kells
                          LAUREN KELLS
                          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) 616-4187
                          Email: Lauren.Kells@usdoj.gov

DATED: November 9, 2021

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