Filed: Jul. 15, 2014
Latest Update: Jul. 15, 2014
Summary: DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 LAURA D. MILLMAN, Special Master. On March 10, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10-34 (2006), alleging that she suffered adhesive capsulitis, shoulder impingement, and tendinosis in her left shoulder as a result of receiving influenza ("flu") vaccine on October 23, 2012. On June 13, 2014, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury related to va
Summary: DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 LAURA D. MILLMAN, Special Master. On March 10, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10-34 (2006), alleging that she suffered adhesive capsulitis, shoulder impingement, and tendinosis in her left shoulder as a result of receiving influenza ("flu") vaccine on October 23, 2012. On June 13, 2014, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury related to vac..
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DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
LAURA D. MILLMAN, Special Master.
On March 10, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2006), alleging that she suffered adhesive capsulitis, shoulder impingement, and tendinosis in her left shoulder as a result of receiving influenza ("flu") vaccine on October 23, 2012.
On June 13, 2014, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA") and recommending compensation.
On July 15, 2014, respondent filed Respondent's Proffer on Award of Compensation. The undersigned finds the terms of the proffer to be reasonable. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to the award as stated in the proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached proffer, the court awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $104,059.49, representing compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering ($100,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury ($4,059.49). The award shall be in the form of a check for $104,059.49 made payable to petitioner.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
RESPONDENT'S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On February 11, 2014, Marie Verdier, a/k/a Marie Gesumene Pervelus Verdier ("petitioner") filed a petition for compensation under the Vaccine Act.1 Petitioner alleges that she received an influenza vaccine in her left arm on October 23, 2012, and subsequently suffered adhesive capsulitis, shoulder impingement, and tendinosis in her left shoulder secondary to the vaccination. (See generally Dkt. 9, Resp.'s Rep. 1-3.) The Secretary of Health and Human Services ("respondent") filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration ("SIRVA"), and recommending that the Court award petitioner compensation. (Id. at 4-5.) Respondent hereby submits the following proffer regarding the award of compensation.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Future Medical Care Expenses
Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of record, petitioner is not entitled to an award for projected unreimbursable medical care expenses incurred from the date of judgment as provided under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(A). Petitioner agrees.
B. Lost Earnings
Respondent proffers that based upon the evidence of record, petitioner has not and is not likely to suffer a loss of earnings as a result of her vaccine-related injury. Accordingly, the Court should not award lost future earnings as provided under § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.
C. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that the Court should award petitioner a lump sum of $100,000.00 for her 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 § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
D. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Respondent proffers that based upon the evidence of record, petitioner has incurred $4,059.49 in past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Petitioner agrees.
E. Medicaid Lien
Petitioner represents that there are no outstanding Medicaid liens related to her vaccinerelated injury.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and request that the Special Master's decision and the Court's judgment award the following2: a lump sum payment of $104,059.49 (representing compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses related to the vaccine-related injury), in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
III. Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment
A lump sum payment of $104,059.49, representing compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses related to the vaccine-related injury, payable to petitioner.
Respectfully submitted,
STUART F. DELERY
Assistant Attorney General
RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Senior Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division