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Dean v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 17-31 (2018)

Court: United States Court of Federal Claims Number: 17-31 Visitors: 1
Judges: Nora Beth Dorsey
Filed: Feb. 14, 2018
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-31V Filed: October 5, 2017 UNPUBLISHED CYNTHIA DEAN, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Damages Decision Based on Proffer; v. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine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. Edward M. Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for petitioner. Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for responde
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         In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-31V
                                     Filed: October 5, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED


    CYNTHIA DEAN,
                                                             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.


Edward M. Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for petitioner.
Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On January 9, 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 left shoulder injury that was
caused-in-fact by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on December 12, 2014.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

      On August 21, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for her shoulder injury. On October 5, 2017, respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$120,260.97. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees


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.
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).
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.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $120,260.97 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Cynthia Dean. 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
____________________________________
                                     )
CYNTHIA DEAN,                        )
                                     )
            Petitioner,              )
                                     )  No. 17-31V
      v.                             )  Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                     )  ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND              )
HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                     )
            Respondent.              )
____________________________________)

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

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

$120,260.97 which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $120,260.97 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.




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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
                          Respectfully submitted,

                          CHAD A. READLER
                          Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                          CATHARINE E. REEVES
                          Deputy Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division


                            s/Christine Mary Becer
                          CHRISTINE MARY BECER
                          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) 616-3665

Date:   October 5, 2017




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Source:  CourtListener

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