VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00811 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00811 Petitioner: Catherine Fry Filed: 2017-06-15 Decided: 2018-12-19 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2016-10-24 Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 75500 AI-assisted case summary: Catherine Fry filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on June 15, 2017, alleging she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) from an influenza vaccination received on October 24, 2016. The respondent, through Camille Michelle Collett of the U.S. Department of Justice, filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that the alleged injury was consistent with SIRVA and was caused in fact by the influenza vaccine. The respondent further agreed that Ms. Fry had satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation. On April 3, 2018, Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Ms. Fry entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on November 5, 2018, the respondent filed a proffer agreeing to an award of $75,500.45. Ms. Fry, represented by Leah VaSahnja Durant of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, agreed with this proffered award, which represented compensation for all damages available under the Act. Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a decision awarding Ms. Fry a lump sum payment of $75,500.45 on December 19, 2018. The award was to be paid by check to Catherine Fry and represented compensation for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The decision noted that attorneys' fees and litigation costs would be determined at a later date upon submission of substantiating documentation. Theory of causation field: Petitioner Catherine Fry alleged a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on October 24, 2016. The respondent conceded that the alleged injury was consistent with SIRVA and was caused in fact by the vaccine. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, onset, symptoms, diagnostic tests, or treatments. No specific medical experts were named in the public text. The respondent's concession led to a ruling on entitlement by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey on April 3, 2018. A subsequent proffer on award of compensation was filed by respondent on November 5, 2018, agreeing to a lump sum payment of $75,500.45, which petitioner accepted. Chief Special Master Dorsey issued the final decision awarding this amount on December 19, 2018. Petitioner was represented by Leah VaSahnja Durant and respondent by Camille Michelle Collett. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00811-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-06-12 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 04/03/2018) regarding 20 Ruling on Entitlement (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00811-UNJ Document 29 Filed 06/12/18 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-811V Filed: April 3, 2018 UNPUBLISHED CATHERINE FRY, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. Causation-In-Fact; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On June 15, 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 she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on October 24, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On March 31, 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 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-00811-UNJ Document 29 Filed 06/12/18 Page 2 of 2 at 1. Specifically, respondent states that the Division of Injury Compensation, Department of Health and Human Services (“DICP”) “believes that the alleged injury is consistent with a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and that it was caused in fact by the influenza vaccine petitioner received on October 24, 2016.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that “based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act”. Id. at 5. 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-00811-1 Date issued/filed: 2018-12-19 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/08/2018) regarding 39 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00811-UNJ Document 43 Filed 12/19/18 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-811V Filed: November 8, 2018 UNPUBLISHED CATHERINE FRY, Petitioner, Special Processing Unit (SPU); v. Damages Decision Based on Proffer; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Injury Related to Vaccine HUMAN SERVICES, Administration (SIRVA) Respondent. Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On June 15, 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 she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on October 24, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 3, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for her shoulder injury. On November 5, 2018, respondent filed a proffer 1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, undersigned is required 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). 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-00811-UNJ Document 43 Filed 12/19/18 Page 2 of 4 on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $75,500.45. 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. Id. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $75,500.45 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Catherine Fry. 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-00811-UNJ Document 43 Filed 12/19/18 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS CATHERINE FRY, Petitioner, v. No. 17-811V Chief Special Master Dorsey SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On March 31, 2018, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report conceding petitioner’s entitlement to compensation for her SIRVA injury. On April 3, 2018, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to damages in this case. Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive an award of a lump sum of $75,500.45 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled.1 This proffer does not address final attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. Petitioner is additionally entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, to be determined at a later date upon petitioner submitting substantiating documentation. Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $75,500.45 as representing all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled. Respectfully submitted, JOSPEH H. HUNT Assistant Attorney General 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. Case 1:17-vv-00811-UNJ Document 43 Filed 12/19/18 Page 4 of 4 C. SALVATORE D`ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division CATHARINE E. REEVES Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division GABRIELLE M. FIELDING Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/Camille M. Collett CAMILLE M. COLLETT Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 616-4098 DATE: November 5, 2018