VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00849 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00849 Petitioner: Robert Hart Filed: 2016-07-19 Decided: 2017-04-25 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2014-11-30 Condition: left shoulder injury Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 75000 AI-assisted case summary: Robert Hart filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered a left shoulder injury as a result of his influenza vaccination on November 30, 2014. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Mr. Hart was entitled to compensation, believing his injury was consistent with Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) and caused by the flu vaccine. Respondent also agreed that no other causes were identified and that Mr. Hart met the statutory requirements for compensation. A ruling on entitlement was issued on October 5, 2016, finding Mr. Hart entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on December 16, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, recommending an award of $75,000.00, which Mr. Hart agreed to. The decision awarding damages, issued on April 25, 2017, granted Mr. Hart a lump sum payment of $75,000.00, representing compensation for all available damages. Theory of causation field: Off-Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00849-0 Date issued/filed: 2017-01-10 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/05/2016) regarding 11 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-00849-UNJ Document 20 Filed 01/10/17 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-849V Filed: October 5, 2016 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ROBERT HART, * * Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination; Shoulder * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”) * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Julia Wernett McInerny, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On July 19, 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 he suffered a left shoulder injury as a result his November 30, 2014 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 3, 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 4. Specifically, respondent “believes that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and that it was caused-in- fact by the flu vaccine he received on November 30, 2014.” Id. Respondent further agrees that no other causes have been identified for petitioner’s SIRVA, and 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-00849-UNJ Document 20 Filed 01/10/17 Page 2 of 2 “petitioner met the statutory requirements by suffering the condition for more than six months.” Id. Respondent additionally indicates that “based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” 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_16-vv-00849-1 Date issued/filed: 2017-04-25 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/19/2016) regarding 19 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-00849-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/25/17 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-849V Filed: December 19, 2016 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ROBERT HART, * * Petitioner, * Damages Decision Based on Proffer; v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination; Shoulder * Injury Related to Vaccine Administration SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”) * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Kathryn Ann Robinette, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On July 19, 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 he suffered a left shoulder injury as a result of his November 30, 2014 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1-4. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 5, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). On December 16, 2016, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $75,000.00. 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-00849-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/25/17 Page 2 of 4 Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Robert Hart. 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-00849-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/25/17 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) ROBERT HART, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 16-849V v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On October 5, 2016, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $75,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees. II. Form of the Award Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $75,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees. 1 Should petitioner die prior to the 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. 1 Case 1:16-vv-00849-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/25/17 Page 4 of 4 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 Torts Branch, Civil Division ALTHEA WALKER DAVIS Senior Trial Counsel Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Kathryn A. Robinette KATHRYN A. ROBINETTE 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) 616-3661 Fax: (202) 616-4310 DATED: December 16, 2016 2