VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00797 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00797 Petitioner: Molly Anderson Filed: 2018-06-06 Decided: 2019-11-08 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2017-09-26 Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 55210 AI-assisted case summary: Molly Anderson 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 her September 26, 2017, influenza vaccination. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, reviewed the petition and medical records and conceded that petitioner was entitled to compensation. The respondent determined that petitioner's injury was consistent with SIRVA as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table, noting she had no prior history of shoulder issues, the pain occurred within 48 hours of the vaccination, was limited to the injection site, and no other condition explained the pain. The respondent also agreed that petitioner suffered residual effects for more than six months, satisfying all legal prerequisites for compensation. Subsequently, a ruling on entitlement was issued on April 17, 2019, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. On August 14, 2019, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, recommending a lump sum payment of $55,210.00. This amount represented $55,000.00 for pain and suffering and $210.00 for past unreimbursable expenses. Petitioner agreed with the proffered award. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding damages on November 8, 2019, granting Molly Anderson a lump sum payment of $55,210.00. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00797-0 Date issued/filed: 2019-06-27 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 04/17/2019) regarding 20 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 24 Filed 06/27/19 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-797V Filed: April 17, 2019 UNPUBLISHED MOLLY ANDERSON,, Petitioner, Special Processing Unit (SPU); v. Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine HUMAN SERVICES, Administration (SIRVA) Respondent. Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On June 6, 2018, 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 her September 26, 2017 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1 The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the ruling 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 ruling 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. Case 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 24 Filed 06/27/19 Page 2 of 2 On April 16, 2019, 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 indicates that he has reviewed the petition and medical records filed in this case, and has concluded that compensation is appropriate in this case. DICP has concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain was limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain. 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a), (c)(10). Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that based on the medical records . . . petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months. Therefore, based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i). 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_18-vv-00797-1 Date issued/filed: 2019-11-08 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 8/15/2019) regarding 28 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (ypb) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 31 Filed 11/08/19 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-797V Filed: August 15, 2019 UNPUBLISHED MOLLY ANDERSON, 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. Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On June 6, 2018, 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her September 26, 2017 influneza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 17, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 14, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of 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 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 31 Filed 11/08/19 Page 2 of 5 compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded a lump sum payment of $55,210.00, representing compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering ($55,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses ($210.00). Proffer at 1-2. 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 $55,210.00, representing compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering ($55,000.00) and past unreimbursable expenses ($210.00) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Molly Anderson. 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 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 31 Filed 11/08/19 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) MOLLY ANDERSON, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 18-797V v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On June 6, 2018, Molly Anderson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (‘SIRVA’), resulting from adverse effects of an influenza (‘flu’) vaccine she received on September 26, 2017.” Petition at 1. On April 16, 2019, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act, and on April 17, 2019, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 19; ECF No. 20. I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that Molly Anderson should be awarded $55,000.00 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. Case 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 31 Filed 11/08/19 Page 4 of 5 B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses Evidence supplied by petitioner documents Molly Anderson’s expenditure of past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $210.00, as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees. II. Form of the Award Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to Molly Anderson should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $55,210.00, representing compensation for pain and suffering ($55,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($210.00), in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Molly Anderson. III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Molly Anderson: $55,210.00 Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH H. HUNT Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division CATHARINE E. REEVES Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 Case 1:18-vv-00797-UNJ Document 31 Filed 11/08/19 Page 5 of 5 ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Sarah C. Duncan Sarah C. Duncan 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) 514-9729 Fax: (202) 616-4310 DATED: August 14, 2019 3