Court Opinion

ID: 6118514
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-03 22:01:34.754365+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:32.826560
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1625V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ROBIN ENGLAND,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                          Petitioner,                           Filed: January 4, 2022
    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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On November 19, 2020, Robin England 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), which meets the definition of a Table SIRVA, after receiving the
tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on October 7, 2019. Petition at 1,
¶ at 2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

        On December 6, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On January 3, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $57,634.58,

1
   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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.
2
 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all Section ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
representing compensation in the amounts of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$2,634.58 for past unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent
represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. 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 $57,634.58, representing compensation in the amounts of
$55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,634.58 for actual unreimburseable
expenses 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 f iling of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                     2
             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                           )
ROBIN ENGLAND,                             )
                                           )
                  Petitioner,              )
                                          )   No. 20-1625V (ECF)
v.                                        )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                          )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       )
                                          )
                  Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

                  RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES

         On December 6, 2021, respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed his

Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation in this matter alleging a Shoulder Injury

Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). The same day, the Court entered its Ruling on

Entitlement, finding petitioner Robin England entitled to Vaccine Act compensation.

Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive a compensation award consisting of a lump sum

of $57,634.58 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Robin England. 1 This amount

consists of $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,634.58 for past unreimbursed expenses, and

represents compensation for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to

which petitioner is entitled. 2

         Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $57,634.58. 3

1
    Petitioner is a competent adult. No guardianship is required.
2
  Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for
future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
3
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).
                             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

                             s/Voris E. Johnson, Jr.
                             VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.
                             Senior Trial Attorney
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                             U.S. Department of Justice
                             P.O. Box 146
                             Ben Franklin Station
                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4136
                             Email: voris.johnson@usdoj.gov

Dated: January 3, 2022

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