Court Opinion

ID: 4359797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-17 17:01:53.690952+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:08.872030
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1368V
                                    Filed: December 7, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MECHELLE HEAD,

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

                       Respondent.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On September 28, 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 “right shoulder injuries” as a result of
her October 11, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 19, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for bursitis and related sequelae. On December 6, 2018,
respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner
should be awarded $81,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented

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 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the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

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $81,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Mechelle Head. 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
                  THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

MECHELLE HEAD,

                      Petitioner,

v.                                                    No. 17-1368V
                                                      Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                      Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On September 14, 2018, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he recommended

that the Court find petitioner entitled to compensation, and on September 19, 2018, the Court

entered its Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Respondent now

proffers that petitioner receive an award of a lump sum of $81,000.00 in the form of a check

payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all elements of compensation

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled.1

       Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $81,000.00.2

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                                     Assistant Attorney General

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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
2
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).

                                                 1
                              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/ RYAN D. PYLES
                              RYAN D. PYLES
                              Trial Attorney
                              Torts Branch, Civil Division
                              U.S. Department of Justice
                              P.O. Box 146
                              Benjamin Franklin Station
                              Washington, DC 20044-0146
                              Tel: (202) 616-9847

Dated: December 6, 2018

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