Court Opinion

ID: 4412051
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-27 21:02:32.373827+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:04.520301
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-2030V
                                      Filed: April 3, 2019
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    MARISSA BIALEK,

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

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On December 26, 2017, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccination received on October 15,
2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

      On March 4, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On April 3, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of

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 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the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).

2National 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).
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $82,875.00. 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 $82,875.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Marissa Bialek. 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
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 MARISSA BIALEK,               )
                               )
           Petitioner,         )
 v.                            )                    No. 17-2030V
                               )                    Chief Special Master Dorsey
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )                    ECF
 SERVICES,                     )
                               )
           Respondent.         )
                               )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       On March 1, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was

appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. On March 4, 2019, Chief Special Master Dorsey

issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for

her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). Based upon the evidence of

record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $82,875.00. The award is

comprised of the following: $82,500.00 for pain and suffering and $375.00 for past out of

pocket medical expenses.. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which

petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
    II.    Form of the Award

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

a lump sum payment of $82,875.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner

agrees.

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

                                                       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/ Alexis B. Babcock
                                                       ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                       U.S. Department of Justice
                                                       P.O. Box 146
                                                       Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                       Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                       Telephone: (202) 616-7678

          Dated: April 3, 2019

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.