Court Opinion

ID: 6112255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-25 14:02:33.48626+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:22.816401
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1746V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MICHAEL EIRAS,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                          Petitioner,                           Filed: December 22, 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)

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Emilie Williams, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On November 12, 2019, Michael Eiras 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table or, in the alternative, was
caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine he received on February 2, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶
2, 25. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

       On June 22, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for his SIRVA. On December 21, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $87,105.79,
representing compensation in the amounts of $77,500.00 for his pain and suffering,

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   Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation f or the action in this case, I am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 “§” ref erences to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
$830.00 for his past unreimbursable expenses, and $8,775.79 for his past lost wages .
Proffer at 1-2. 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 $87,105.79, representing compensation in the amounts of
$77,500.00 for his pain and suffering, $830.00 for his actual unreimbursable
expenses, and $8,775.79 for his actual lost wages 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
___________________________________
                                    )
MICHAEL EIRAS,                      )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 19-1746V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master
                                    )    Brian H. Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On November 12, 2019, Michael Eiras (“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 he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of

an influenza vaccine he received on February 2, 2018. Petition at 1. On June 18, 2018, 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 June 22, 2018, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner

entitled to compensation. ECF No. 23; ECF No. 24.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.     Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $77,500.00 in pain and suffering.

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

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past unreimbursable expenses

related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past

unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $830.00. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).

Petitioner agrees.

       C.      Lost Wages

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past lost wages related to his

vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost wages in

the amount of $8,775.79. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

       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

       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 following1: a lump sum payment of $87,105.79, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Michael Eiras:                               $87,105.79

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,
unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                           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/ Emilie F. Williams
                           EMILIE F. WILLIAMS
                           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) 305-0124
                           Emilie.williams@usdoj.gov

DATED: December 21, 2021

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