VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01273 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01273 Petitioner: Naomi Miller Filed: 2017-09-15 Decided: 2019-06-27 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2016-09-23 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 70402 AI-assisted case summary: Naomi Miller filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on September 23, 2016. The respondent conceded that Ms. Miller is entitled to compensation, concluding that she suffered a Table injury of SIRVA within the Table time period and that there was no evidence of an unrelated cause. The respondent further agreed that the claim met the statutory severity requirements because the sequelae of her SIRVA lasted for more than six months. A ruling on entitlement was issued on June 6, 2018, finding Ms. Miller entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on August 21, 2018, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $70,402.00, which included $70,000.00 for pain and suffering and $402.00 for past unreimbursed expenses. Ms. Miller agreed with this proffered award. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding damages on June 27, 2019, granting Ms. Miller a lump sum payment of $70,402.00. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01273-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-09-19 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 06/06/2018) regarding 19 Ruling on Entitlement (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-01273-UNJ Document 29 Filed 09/19/18 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-1273V Filed: June 6, 2018 UNPUBLISHED NAOMI MILLER, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related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. Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 15, 2017, Naomi Miller (“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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 23, 2016 to her right shoulder. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 6, 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 concludes that “petitioner suffered the Table injury of SIRVA 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-01273-UNJ Document 29 Filed 09/19/18 Page 2 of 2 following her September 23, 2016 flu vaccination within the Table time period, and there is not a preponderance of the medical evidence that petitioner’s SIRVA was due to a factor unrelated to vaccination.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “[t]he claim also meets the statutory severity requirements because petitioner experienced the sequelae of her SIRVA for more than six months” and has therefore “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-01273-2 Date issued/filed: 2019-06-27 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/21/2018) regarding 25 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-01273-UNJ Document 37 Filed 06/27/19 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-1273V Filed: August 21, 2018 UNPUBLISHED NAOMI MILLER, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Damages Decision Based on Proffer; Petitioner, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder v. Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Voris Edward Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 15, 2017, Naomi Miller (“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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 23, 2016 to her right shoulder. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 6, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. On August 21, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $70,402.00 representing $70,000.00 for pain and suffering and $402.00 for past unreimbursed 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-01273-UNJ Document 37 Filed 06/27/19 Page 2 of 4 expenses. 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. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $70,402.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Naomi Miller. 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 1:17-vv-01273-UNJ Document 37 Filed 06/27/19 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS __________________________________________ ) NAOMI MILLER, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 17-1273V (ECF) v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) __________________________________________) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES On June 6, 2018, respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation in this matter. The same day, the Court entered its Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner Naomi Miller entitled to Vaccine Act compensation. Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive a compensation award consisting of a lump sum of $70,402.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Naomi Miller.1 This amount consists of $70,000.00 for pain and suffering and $402.00 for past unreimbursed expenses, and represents compensation for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled.2 Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $70,402.00.3 1 Petitioner is a competent adult. No guardianship is required. 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. 3 This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e). Case 1:17-vv-01273-UNJ Document 37 Filed 06/27/19 Page 4 of 4 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 ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/Voris E. Johnson, Jr. VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR. Senior Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Ben Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Direct dial: (202) 616-4136 Dated: August 21, 2018 2