Court Opinion

ID: 4256590
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-21 12:04:07.960973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:18:25.120232
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-160V
                                   Filed: December 12, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

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

                       Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On February 2, 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 he suffered a left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-3. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters.

        On August 25, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On December 12, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the
proffered award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner
is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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.

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).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $95,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Joseph Lamonde. This amount represents compensation for all damages
that would be available under § 300aa-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
___________________________________
                                    )
JOSEPH LAMONDE,                     )
                                    )
       Petitioner,                  )    No. 17-160V ECF
                                    )
              v.                    )    Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                 )
                                    )
       Respondent.                  )
___________________________________ )

                        PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

I.      Procedural History

        On February 2, 2017, Joseph Lamonde (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. He alleged that, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October

6, 2015, he suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition

at 1-3. On August 24, 2017, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding causation-

in-fact for a SIRVA to petitioner’s left arm. On August 25, 2017, the Chief Special Master

issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a SIRVA

to petitioner’s left arm.

II.     Items of Compensation

        Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

$95,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

        1
         This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $95,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             CHAD A. READLER
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                             C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                             Acting Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                             Deputy Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                             Assistant Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             /s/Darryl R. Wishard
                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Senior Trial Attorney
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                             U. S. Department of Justice
                                             P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                                             Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                             Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: December 12, 2017                     Fax: (202) 616-4310

       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.

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