VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00366 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00366 Petitioner: Shelley Norris Filed: 2016-03-21 Decided: 2016-10-31 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2014-10-13 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 97500 AI-assisted case summary: Shelley Norris filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury caused by her October 13, 2014 influenza vaccination. The respondent conceded that her injury was consistent with shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) and was caused by the flu vaccine. The respondent also agreed that no other cause for the injury was identified and that Ms. Norris had suffered the sequelae of her injury for more than six months, satisfying all legal prerequisites for compensation. A ruling on entitlement was issued on June 13, 2016, finding her entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on August 9, 2016, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, recommending an award of $97,500.00, which Ms. Norris agreed to. The court awarded Ms. Norris a lump sum payment of $97,500.00, representing compensation for all damages, primarily for pain and suffering. Theory of causation field: Off-Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00366-0 Date issued/filed: 2016-07-22 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 06/13/2016) regarding 13 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 18 Filed 07/22/16 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-366V Filed: June 13, 2016 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SHELLEY NORRIS, * * Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. * Influenza; * Shoulder Injury (“SIRVA”); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Alison Haskins, Maglio, Christopher, and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner. Alexis Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On March 21, 2016, 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”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury that was caused- in-fact by her October 13, 2014 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 13, 2016, 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 “concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), and that it was caused in fact by the flu vaccine she received on October 13, 2014.” Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees that no other cause for petitioner’s injury has been identified, that 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. 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. 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 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 18 Filed 07/22/16 Page 2 of 2 petitioner suffered the sequela of her injury for more than six months, and that petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id. at 3-4. 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_16-vv-00366-1 Date issued/filed: 2016-10-31 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/09/2016) regarding 20 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 28 Filed 10/31/16 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-366V Filed: August 9, 2016 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SHELLEY NORRIS, * * Petitioner, * Damages Decision Based on Proffer; v. * Influenza; * Shoulder Injury; SIRVA; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Alison Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner. Alexis Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On March 21, 2016, 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”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury that was caused- in-fact by her October 13, 2014 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 13, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). On August 9, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $97,500.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner 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. 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. 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 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 28 Filed 10/31/16 Page 2 of 4 Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $97,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Shelley Norris. 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 Case 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 28 Filed 10/31/16 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS __________________________________________ ) SHELLEY NORRIS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 16-366 v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) __________________________________________) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER OF DAMAGES I. Items of Compensation For the purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine-related” is as described in Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report filed on June 13, 2016. A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $97,500.00 in 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses Respondent proffers that petitioner should not be awarded any past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine injury. Petitioner agrees. C. Lost Wages The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, petitioner’s vaccine-related injury has not impaired her earning capacity. Therefore, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded no lost future earnings as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees. 1 Case 1:16-vv-00366-UNJ Document 28 Filed 10/31/16 Page 4 of 4 II. Form of the Award The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:1 A lump sum payment of $97,500.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a), in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN C. MIZER Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division CATHARINE E. REEVES Acting Deputy Director Tort Branch, Civil Division LISA A. WATTS Senior Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Alexis B. Babcock ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Senior Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Dated: August 9, 2016 Telephone: (202) 616-7678 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 and future pain and suffering. 2