Court Opinion

ID: 5118985
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-18 13:03:40.186136+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:10.557539
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED

         In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 20-0919V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    ASHLEY NORE,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                         Filed: September 15, 2021

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

LeeAnne Pedrick, Maglio, Christopher, & Toale PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 29, 2020, Ashley Nore 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
September 19, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On August 23, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her SIRVA. ECF No. 27. On September 15, 2021, Respondent filed
a proffer on an award of compensation, to which Petitioner agrees. Proffer (ECF No. 28)

1 Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 opinion 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.

2
 National 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).
(attached hereto as Exhibit A). Id. 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 $91,539.71 (representing $90,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$1,539.71 for unreimbursable medical expenses). 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

ASHLEY NORE,                                         )
                                                     )
                       Petitioner,                   )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 20-919V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                       Respondent.                   )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On August 23, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

petitioner suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) within the

Table timeframe following an influenza vaccination, which was compensable under the National

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Accordingly,

on August 23, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and suffering

and $1,539.71 for unreimbursable medical expenses. 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

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $91,539.71 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 This

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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

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

                                             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

                                             s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                                             LARA A. ENGLUND
                                             Assistant Director
                                             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: September 15, 2021

                                                2