Court Opinion

ID: 4450739
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-28 16:01:27.003821+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:03:53.804785
License: Public Domain

Case 1:18-vv-00477-UNJ Document 43 Filed 09/17/19 Page 1 of 4

         In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-0477V
                                   Filed: September 17, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DAVID MCKAIRNES,

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

David Alexander Tierney, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On April 2, 2018, David McKairnes (“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 he suffered a right shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) due to an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he
received on November 18, 2015. Petition at Preamble. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

     On May 6, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation. On September 17, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $92,500.00 for his past

1
  The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).
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).
           Case 1:18-vv-00477-UNJ Document 43 Filed 09/17/19 Page 2 of 4

and future pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that
petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. 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 $92,500.00 (for his past and future pain and
suffering) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, David McKairnes. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 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
               Case 1:18-vv-00477-UNJ Document 43 Filed 09/17/19 Page 3 of 4

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

DAVID MCKAIRNES,

                           Petitioner,

               v.                                         No. 18-477V
                                                          Chief Special Master Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                           Respondent.

                    RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

          On April 2, 2018, David McKairnes (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury

compensation alleging that he suffered a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), a Table injury, following receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on

November 18, 2015. Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to

compensation on May 6, 2019. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement that

same day.

          I.         Items of Compensation

          Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

$92,500.00 for his past and future pain and suffering. This represents all elements of

compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner

agrees.

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 damages.

                                                   1
           Case 1:18-vv-00477-UNJ Document 43 Filed 09/17/19 Page 4 of 4

         II.    Form of the Award

         The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $92,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                               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/Lisa A. Watts
                                               LISA A. WATTS
                                               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) 616-4099

DATED: September 17, 2019

2
    Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
                                                 2