Court Opinion

ID: 4635676
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-24 17:02:20.600287+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:58:25.556293
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1079V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ANGELINE FLETCHER,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                          Petitioner,                           Filed: October 21, 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)

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.

Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

      On July 25, 2019, Angeline Fletcher filed a petition2 for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.3 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges she suffered a SIRVA on July 27, 2016 after receiving
a Tdap vaccination. Amended Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On October 19, 2020, Respondent filed a joint Rule 4(c) report and proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”). On October 21, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was
issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. The October 19, 2020
Proffer indicated that Petitioner should be awarded $80,000.00. Proffer at 5. In the Proffer,

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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   Petitioner filed an amended petition on June 18, 2020.

3 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).
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 Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum
payment of $80,000.00 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

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.

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