Court Opinion

ID: 4586593
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-16 18:01:29.14465+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:48:35.621227
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-1961V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MARA CORTER,                                                Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 15, 2020
    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)

Summer Pope Abel, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On December 15, 2017, Mara Corter 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) resulting from the adverse effects of an influenza
vaccination she received on September 26, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned
to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On June 5, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for a left SIRVA. On October 7, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $65,552.58. Proffer
at 2. Specifically, Respondent proffers that Petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00 in

1
   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
actual and projected pain and suffering 3 and $552.58 in past unreimbursable expenses.
Id. at 1-2. Respondent also represents 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 $65,552.58 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                         s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Chief Special Master

3
 This amount reflects that the award for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present
value. ECF 60 at 2.
4
  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

                                                    )
 MARA CORTER,                                       )
                                                    )
                Petitioner,                         )
                                                    )     No. 17-1961V
 v.                                                 )     Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )     ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
                Respondent.                         )
                                                    )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On April 21, 2020, the Chief Special Master issued Findings of Fact that “the onset of

Petitioner’s SIRVA occurred within 48 hours of vaccination.” ECF No 51 at 2. On June 3,

2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed an Amended Vaccine

Rule 4(c) Report advising that, in light of Chief Special Master Corcoran’s Findings of Fact that

the onset of petitioner’s left arm pain occurred within 48 hours of vaccination, and the medical

evidence submitted in this case, respondent did not dispute that petitioner had satisfied all legal

prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 53 at 2-3, 9. Thereafter, on

June 5, 2020, Chief Special Master Corcoran entered a Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner,

Mara Corter, entitled to Vaccine Act compensation for her Table SIRVA injury. ECF No. 54.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent now proffers that, based on the Chief Special Master’s entitlement decision

and the evidence of record, Mara Corter should be awarded $65,000.00 in actual and projected
pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award for projected pain and suffering has been

reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

       B.      Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents Mara Corter’s expenditure of past

unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent now proffers that,

based on the Chief Special Master’s entitlement decision and the evidence of record, petitioner

should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $552.58, as provided under

the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.1

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 Mara Corter 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 following2: a lump sum payment of $65,552.58,

representing compensation for pain and suffering ($65,000.00), and past unreimbursable

expenses ($552.58), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Mara Corter.

1
 The parties have no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages. Assuming the
Chief Special Master issues a damages decision in conformity with this proffer, the parties waive
their right to seek review of such damages decision. However, respondent reserves his right,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Chief Special Master’s June 5, 2020
entitlement decision.
2
  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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
                                                 2
III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Mara Corter:                           $65,552.58

                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                          JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK
                                          Acting 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/ Sarah C. Duncan
                                          SARAH C. DUNCAN
                                          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) 514-9729
                                          Fax: (202) 616-4310
DATED: October 7, 2020

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