Court Opinion

ID: 5121637
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-28 13:02:03.529321+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:23.592192
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 20-0418V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DENISE SUMMER,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                         Filed: September 22, 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).

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

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

                                       DECISION ON DAMAGES1

       On April 13, 2020, Denise Summer 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 3, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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

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).
       On August 19, 2021, I issued a ruling that Petitioner was entitled to compensation
for her SIRVA. ECF No. 33. On September 22, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on an
award of compensation, to which Petitioner agrees. ECF No. 36 (attached hereto as
Exhibit A). 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 $65,350.07 (representing $65,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$350.07 for past unreimbursable 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.

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             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                        OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                     )
DENISE SUMMER,                       )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 20-418V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.              )
____________________________________)

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On April 13, 2020, Denise Summer (“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”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza

vaccine she received on October 3, 2018. Petition at 1. On August 19, 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, and on the

same date, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to

compensation. ECF No. 31 ECF No. 33.

Items of Compensation

       Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $350.07. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

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

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

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 $65,350.07, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Denise Summer: $65,350.07

                                                      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

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
                                LARA A. ENGLUND
                                Assistant Director
                                Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                /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: September 22, 2021

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