VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01085 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01085 Petitioner: Carol Ennis Filed: 2015-12-14 Decided: 2016-04-27 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2014-09-09 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 95000 AI-assisted case summary: Carol Ennis filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that her September 9, 2014 influenza vaccination caused her to suffer from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that petitioner's injury was consistent with SIRVA and was compensable as a "caused-in-fact" injury. The respondent also agreed that the claim was timely filed, involved a vaccination covered by the Vaccine Injury Table, and that petitioner had suffered from her condition for more than six months without prior compensation. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence, entitlement to compensation was granted. Subsequently, a proffer on award of compensation was filed, indicating that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00, which represented all elements of compensation. Petitioner agreed with this award. The Chief Special Master awarded Carol Ennis a lump sum payment of $95,000.00. Theory of causation field: Off-Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01085-0 Date issued/filed: 2016-04-27 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 12/14/2015) regarding 17 Ruling on Entitlement (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:15-vv-01085-UNJ Document 28 Filed 04/27/16 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1085V Filed: December 14, 2015 Unpublished * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CAROL ENNIS, * * Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination; Shoulder * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”) * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, for petitioner. Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 28, 2015, 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 her September 9, 2014 influenza vaccination caused her to suffer from shoulder injuries. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On December 11, 2015, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent “has concluded that a preponderance of the evidence established that petitioner’s injury is consistent with shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (‘SIRVA’),” and “is compensable as a ‘caused-in-fact’ injury under the Vaccine Act.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that petitioner’s claim was timely filed, and involved a vaccination received in the United States and covered by the 1 Because this unpublished ruling 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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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). Case 1:15-vv-01085-UNJ Document 28 Filed 04/27/16 Page 2 of 2 Vaccine Injury Table. Id. at 5. Respondent also agrees that petitioner has suffered from her condition from more than six months, and that the petition indicates that petitioner has received no prior compensation, award, or settlement for her injury. Id. In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01085-1 Date issued/filed: 2016-04-27 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/14/2015) regarding 18 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:15-vv-01085-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/27/16 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-1085V Filed: December 14, 2015 Unpublished * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CAROL ENNIS, * * Petitioner, * Damages Decision Based on Proffer; * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination; Shoulder * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”) * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, for petitioner. Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 28, 2015, 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 her September 9, 2014 influenza vaccination caused her to suffer from shoulder injuries. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On December 14, 2015, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for shoulder injury related to vaccine administration [“SIRVA”]. On December 11, 2015, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation [“Proffer”] indicating that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Based on the 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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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). Case 1:15-vv-01085-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/27/16 Page 2 of 4 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 $95,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Carol Ennis. 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 CCaassee 11::1155--vvvv--0011008855--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 1259 FFiilleedd 1024//1217//1156 PPaaggee 13 ooff 24 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ___________________________________ ) CAROL ENNIS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 15-1085V (ECF) v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________) PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1 I. Procedural History On September 28, 2015, Carol Ennis (“petitioner”) filed a Petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered from a right shoulder injury as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on September 9, 2014. Petition at preamble. Petitioner alleges a theory based on causation-in-fact. On December 11, 2015, respondent filed her Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding causation-in-fact for petitioner’s SIRVA. II. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. 1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to discuss after the Damages Decision is issued. CCaassee 11::1155--vvvv--0011008855--UUNNJJ DDooccuummeenntt 1259 FFiilleedd 1024//1217//1156 PPaaggee 24 ooff 24 III. Form of the Award Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $95,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees. Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN C. MIZER Principal Deputy 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 s/ Robert P. Coleman III ROBERT P. COLEMAN III 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) 305-0274 Email: Robert.P.Coleman@usdoj.gov DATED: December 11, 2015 2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.