VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00698 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00698 Petitioner: Julius Vine Filed: 2018-01-19 Decided: 2018-09-12 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2015-09-30 Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 90000 AI-assisted case summary: Julius Vine filed a petition for vaccine injury compensation on May 25, 2017, alleging that he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccination on September 30, 2015. He also alleged, in the alternative, some form of neurological syndrome or physical injury caused by the vaccination. Mr. Vine stated that he received the vaccination in the United States, suffered residual effects for more than six months, and had not received any award or settlement for his alleged vaccine-caused injury. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report on January 17, 2018, conceding that Mr. Vine was entitled to compensation. The respondent specifically agreed that Mr. Vine suffered a left SIRVA injury as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and had satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence of record, Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement on January 19, 2018, finding Mr. Vine entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on June 4, 2018, the parties submitted a joint proffer on the award of compensation. The respondent proffered that Mr. Vine should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and suffering, representing all elements of compensation available under the Act, and stated that Mr. Vine agreed with this proffered award. Chief Special Master Dorsey accepted this proffer and awarded Mr. Vine a lump sum payment of $90,000.00, payable by check to Julius Vine. This decision was issued on September 12, 2018. Petitioner was represented by Michael Avrim Firestone and Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, and respondent was represented by Lisa Ann Watts of the U.S. Department of Justice. Theory of causation field: Petitioner Julius Vine alleged a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), a Table injury, following an influenza vaccination on September 30, 2015. The respondent conceded entitlement, agreeing that petitioner suffered a left SIRVA injury as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, onset, symptoms, diagnostic tests, or treatments. Petitioner was represented by Michael Avrim Firestone and Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, and respondent was represented by Lisa Ann Watts. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement on January 19, 2018, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. A subsequent Proffer on Award of Compensation, filed June 4, 2018, proposed an award of $90,000.00 for pain and suffering, representing all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). This amount was awarded as a lump sum payment on September 12, 2018. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00698-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-04-27 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 1/19/2018) regarding 20 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (rp) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/27/18 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-698V Filed: January 19, 2018 UNPUBLISHED JULIUS VINE, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Administration (SIRVA) HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Michael Avrim Firestone, Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, San Mateo, CA, for petitioner. Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On May 25, 2017, 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, after receiving an influenza vaccination on September 30, 2015, he “suffered the Table Injury known as Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) . . . [or] [i]n the alternative . . . suffered some form of neurological syndrome or physical injury, either or all of which was caused-in-fact by the above stated vaccination.” Petition at 1 (internal quotations omitted); accord. id. at ¶¶ 2, 34. Petitioner further alleges that he received the vaccination in the United States, has suffered the residual effects of his injury for more than six months, and has not received 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 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/27/18 Page 2 of 2 an award or settlement for his injury alleged to be vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 36-37. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On January 17, 2018, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent “has concluded that petitioner suffered a left SIRVA injury as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “based on the records as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00698-1 Date issued/filed: 2018-09-12 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/04/2018) regarding 33 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 36 Filed 09/12/18 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-0698V Filed: June 4, 2018 UNPUBLISHED JULIUS VINE, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Damages Decision Based on Proffer; v. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Administration (SIRVA) HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Michael Avrim Firestone, Marvin Firestone, MD, JD and Associates, San Mateo, CA, for petitioner. Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On May 25, 2017, 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, after receiving an influenza vaccination on September 30, 2015, he “suffered the Table Injury known as Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) . . . [or] [i]n the alternative . . . suffered some form of neurological syndrome or physical injury, either or all of which was caused-in-fact by the above stated vaccination.” Petition at 1 (internal quotations omitted); accord. id. at ¶¶ 2, 34. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On January 19, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for his SIRVA. On June 4, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on 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 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 36 Filed 09/12/18 Page 2 of 4 award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. 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 lump sum payment of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Julius Vine. 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. 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 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 36 Filed 09/12/18 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS JULIUS VINE, Petitioner, v. No. 17-698V Chief Special Master Dorsey SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On May 25, 2017, Julius Vine (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury compensation alleging that he suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), a Table injury, following receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on September 30, 2015. Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation on January 18, 2018. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement on January 19, 2018. I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for his pain and suffering, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees. 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 damages. 1 Case 1:17-vv-00698-UNJ Document 36 Filed 09/12/18 Page 4 of 4 II. Form of the Award The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $90,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees. Respectfully submitted, CHAD A. READLER Acting 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/Lisa A. Watts LISA A. WATTS 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) 616-4099 DATED: June 4, 2018 2 Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case. 2