In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-279V
                                      Filed: May 31, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

****************************
PATRICIA VILLANO,                       *
                                        *
                   Petitioner,          *
                                        *    Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.                                      *    Influenza Vaccine (“Flu Vaccine”);
                                        *    Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *    Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *    Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                        *
                   Respondent.          *
                                        *
****************************
Ronald Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Ryan Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On February 29, 2016, Patricia Villano (“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” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she
suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) after receiving the
influenza vaccine on November 11, 2014. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to
the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On July 29, 2016, the undersigned issued a ruling on entitlement, finding
petitioner entitled to compensation. (ECF No. 15). On May 31, 2017, respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$135,000.00. 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

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).
with the proffered award. 

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 $135,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Patricia Villano. 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.


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                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS


PATRICIA VILLANO,

                       Petitioner,

v.                                                    No. 16-279V
                                                      Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.


             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 29, 2016, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he recommended that

the Court find petitioner entitled to compensation, and also on July 29, 2016, 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 $135,000.00 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 $135,000.00. 2

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      CHAD A. READLER
                                                      Acting 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: May 31, 2017




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