VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00052 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00052 Petitioner: Jasmine Sabet Filed: 2014-01-23 Decided: 2015-04-16 Vaccine: Tdap Vaccination date: 2011-02-11 Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 175862 AI-assisted case summary: Jasmine Sabet filed a petition on January 23, 2014, alleging that she received a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on February 11, 2011, and subsequently suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA). The respondent conceded that Petitioner met the legal requirements for compensation and recommended an award. The parties stipulated to damages, and Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman issued a decision awarding compensation on January 26, 2015. The award included a lump sum payment of $154,700.00, a lump sum payment of $300.00 to Petitioner and Beachside Physical Therapy, Inc., a lump sum payment of $5,262.07 to satisfy Medicaid liens from Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and/or the State of Rhode Island, and a lump sum payment of $437.19 to satisfy Medicaid liens from WellCare and/or the State of Florida. Petitioner agreed to endorse the latter two payments to First Recovery Group LLC. Separately, on March 26, 2015, Petitioner filed a stipulation concerning attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman issued a decision on April 16, 2015, awarding $21,173.05 in attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to Petitioner and her counsel, Heather M. Bonnet-Hebert. The total award amount was $175,862.07. Theory of causation field: Petitioner Jasmine Sabet alleged that she received a Tdap vaccine on February 11, 2011, and subsequently suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA). Respondent conceded that the injury was SIRVA, caused-in-fact by the Tdap vaccine administration, and not due to unrelated factors. The parties stipulated to damages, and the Special Master awarded compensation. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, onset, symptoms, or expert testimony. The award totaled $175,862.07, including a lump sum of $154,700.00, $300.00 for physical therapy, $5,262.07 for Rhode Island Medicaid liens, $437.19 for Florida Medicaid liens, and $21,173.05 for attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman issued the decisions on January 26, 2015 (damages) and April 16, 2015 (fees). Petitioner was represented by Heather M. Bonnet-Hebert of Mandell, Schwartz, & Boisclair, Ltd., and Respondent was represented by Ann Martin of the U.S. Department of Justice. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00052-0 Date issued/filed: 2015-02-19 Pages: 7 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 01/26/2015) regarding 32 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (jb) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 1 of 7 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 14-52V (Filed: January 26, 2015) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JASMINE SABET, * UNPUBLISHED * Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman Petitioner, * * v. * * Decision on Proffer; Damages; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related * to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA). Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Heather M. Bonnet-Hebert, Mandell, Schwartz, & Boisclair, Ltd., Providence, RI, for Petitioner. Ann Martin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On January 23, 2014, Jasmine Sabet (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleges that she received a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on February 11, 2011, and suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). Petition (“Pet”) at 1. Respondent has conceded that Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for 1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa. Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 2 of 7 compensation under the Vaccine Act and recommends that compensation be awarded to Petitioner. Respondent’s Report, filed April 23, 2014, at 1. Informed by Respondent’s concession that an award of damages is appropriate, the undersigned finds that Petitioner is entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act. On January 23, 2015, Respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Proffer”). In a Status Report filed on January 23, 2015, Petitioner stated that she agrees 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. A lump sum payment of $154,700.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. B. A lump sum payment of $300.00 in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Beachside Physical Therapy, Inc. C. A lump sum payment of $5,262.07, which amount represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action that Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (“MHPRI”) and/or the State of Rhode Island may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments that NHPRI and/or the State of Rhode Island has made to or on behalf of Petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in this case, as a result of her vaccine-related injury suffered on or about February 11, 2011, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and First Recovery Group LLC 26899 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 250 Southfield, MI 48033 Attn: Patty Pannette Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to First Recovery Group LLC. D. A lump sum payment of $437.19, which amount represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action that WellCare and/or the State of Florida may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments that WellCare and/or the State of Florida has made to or on behalf of Petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in this case as a result of her vaccine-related injury suffered on or about February 11, 2011, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and 2 Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 3 of 7 First Recovery Group LLC 26899 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 250 Southfield, MI 48033 Attn: Tiffany Dangerfield Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to First Recovery Group LLC. Proffer ¶ I. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT herewith.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 4 of 7 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ____________________________________ ) JASMINE SABET, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 14-52V v. ) Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On January 23, 2014, Jasmine Sabet (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the Vaccine Act” or “the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34. Petitioner alleges that she received a tetanus-diphtheria- acellular-pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine in her left arm on February 11, 2011, and thereafter suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) that was caused by the vaccine. See Petition at 1-8. Petitioner filed documentation in support of her claim on or about January 30 and February 24, 2014. See Petitioner’s Exhibits (“Pet. Exs.”) at 1-8. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report on April 23, 2014, conceding that the injury to petitioner’s left arm was SIRVA, which was caused- in-fact by the administration of her February 11, 2011, Tdap vaccine, and that this injury is not due to factors unrelated to the administration of the Tdap vaccine. Respondent recommended that petitioner be awarded compensation for SIRVA in her left arm. Respondent hereby submits the following proffer regarding the award of compensation. For the purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine-related” is as described in Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report. Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 5 of 7 I. Items of Compensation and Form of the Award Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded the following compensation payments in the following forms: A. A lump sum payment of $154,700.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner; B. A lump sum payment of $300.00 in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and Beachside Physical Therapy, Inc.; C. A lump sum payment of $5,262.07, which amount represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action that Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (“NHPRI”) and/or the State of Rhode Island may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments that NHPRI and/or the State of Rhode Island has made to or on behalf of petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in this case, as a result of her vaccine-related injury suffered on or about February 11, 2011, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and First Recovery Group LLC 26899 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 250 Southfield, MI 48033 Attn: Patty Pannette Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to First Recovery Group LLC ; and D. A lump sum payment of $437.19, which amount represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action that WellCare and/or the State of Florida may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments that WellCare and/or the State of Florida has made to or on behalf of petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in this case as a result of her vaccine-related injury suffered on or about February 11, 2011, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and First Recovery Group LLC 26899 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 250 Southfield, MI 48033 Attn: Tiffany Dangerfield 2 Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 6 of 7 Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to First Recovery Group LLC. Respondent proffers that these four payments represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees. II. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment 1. Lump sum paid to petitioner: $ 154,700.00 2. Lump sum paid jointly to petitioner and Beachside Physical Therapy, Inc.: $ 300.00 3. Lump sum paid jointly to petitioner and First Recovery Group LLC (Attn: Patty Pannette): $ 5,262.07 4. Lump sum paid jointly to petitioner and First Recovery Group LLC (Attn: Tiffany Dangerfield): $ 437.19 Respectfully submitted, JOYCE R. BRANDA Acting Assistant Attorney General RUPA BHATTACHARYYA Director Torts Branch, Civil Division VINCENT J. MATANOSKI Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division MICHAEL P. MILMOE Senior Trial Counsel Torts Branch, Civil Division 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. 3 Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 36 Filed 02/19/15 Page 7 of 7 s/ ANN D. MARTIN ANN D. MARTIN Senior 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) 307-1815 DATED: January 23, 2015 4 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00052-1 Date issued/filed: 2015-04-16 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/26/2015) regarding 38 DECISION Fees Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (jb) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 41 Filed 04/16/15 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 14-52 Filed: March 26, 2015 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED JASMINE SABET, * * Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman Petitioner, * v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; Reasonable Amount * Requested to which Respondent Does Not SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Object. AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Heather M. Bonnet-Hebert, Mandell, Schwartz & Boisclair, Ltd., Providence, RI, for Petitioner. Ann D. Martin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION1 On January 23, 2014, Jasmine Sabet (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) and that this injury had been caused by a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (“TDAP”) vaccination received on February 11, 2011. Petition (“Pet”) at 1. On January 26, 2015, the undersigned issued a decision awarding compensation to Petitioner. On March 26, 2015, Petitioner filed a Stipulation of Facts Concerning Final Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. Pursuant to their Stipulation, the parties have agreed to an award of $21,173.05 in attorneys’ fees and costs. In accordance with General Order Number 9, Petitioner represents that she did not personally incur any expenses in pursuit of this claim. 1 The undersigned intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107 347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to file a motion for redaction “of any information furnished by that party (1) that is trade secret or commercial or financial information and is privileged or confidential, or (2) that are medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” In the absence of such motion, the entire decision will be available to the public. Id. 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa. 1 Case 1:14-vv-00052-UNJ Document 41 Filed 04/16/15 Page 2 of 2 The undersigned finds that this petition was brought in good faith and that there existed a reasonable basis for the claim. Therefore, an award for fees and costs is appropriate, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(b) and (e)(1). Further, the proposed amount seems reasonable and appropriate. Accordingly, the undersigned hereby awards the amount of $21,173.05, in the form of a check made payable jointly to Petitioner and Petitioner’s counsel, Heather M. Bonnet-Hebert. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. /s/ Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2