Filed: Jan. 22, 2020
Latest Update: Jan. 22, 2020
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On September 14, 2018, Sasha Weiser-Freedman 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 her October 17, 2016 influenza ("flu") vaccination caused her to suffer a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA"). Petition at Preamble. The case was assigned to the Special
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On September 14, 2018, Sasha Weiser-Freedman 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 her October 17, 2016 influenza ("flu") vaccination caused her to suffer a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA"). Petition at Preamble. The case was assigned to the Special P..
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UNPUBLISHED
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
BRIAN H. CORCORAN, Chief Special Master.
On September 14, 2018, Sasha Weiser-Freedman 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 her October 17, 2016 influenza ("flu") vaccination caused her to suffer a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA"). Petition at Preamble. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On October 28, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On January 21, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation ("Proffer") indicating Petitioner should be awarded $80,000.00 representing actual and projected pain and suffering and $1,645.00 representing past unreimbursable expenses . Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $81,645.00 (representing $80,000.00 for actual and projected pain and suffering and $1,645.00 for past unreimbursable expenses) 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES
On September 14, 2018, Sasha Weiser-Freedman ("petitioner") filed a petition for compensation ("Petition") under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 ("Vaccine Act" or "Act"), as amended. The Petition alleged that petitioner suffered right shoulder injuries following her receipt of an influenza vaccine on October 17, 2016. Respondent conceded petitioner's entitlement to compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on October 28, 2019. Based on Respondent's Rule 4(c) Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $80,000.00 in actual and projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that any award for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,645.00. Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Respondent recommends that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $81,645.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1 This lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. HUNT
Assistant Attorney General
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/ Jennifer L. Reynaud
JENNIFER L. REYNAUD
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) 305-1586
Date: January 21, 2020