VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01362 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01362 Petitioner: Elizabeth Schnarr Filed: 2018-11-13 Decided: 2019-04-10 Vaccine: influenza (flu) Vaccination date: 2016-09-06 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 40911 AI-assisted case summary: Elizabeth Schnarr filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on November 13, 2018, alleging she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 6, 2016. Her symptoms began within 48 hours and lasted more than six months. The respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that her injury was consistent with SIRVA and met the requirements of a Table injury claim. On November 13, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Ms. Schnarr entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on February 15, 2019, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $40,911.54, which included $40,000.00 for pain and suffering and $911.54 for past loss of earnings. Ms. Schnarr agreed with this proffered award. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding Ms. Schnarr the lump sum of $40,911.54 on April 10, 2019. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01362-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-12-19 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 11/13/2018) regarding 9 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-01362-UNJ Document 13 Filed 12/19/18 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1362V Filed: November 13, 2018 UNPUBLISHED ELIZABETH SCHNARR, Petitioner, Special Processing Unit (SPU); v. Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; SECRETARY OF HEALTH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. Bridget C. McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 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 sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, the symptoms of which began within 48 hours and lasted more than six months. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 8. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccination in the United States and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for her injury. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 9-10. 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. 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-01362-UNJ Document 13 Filed 12/19/18 Page 2 of 2 On November 8, 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’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA of the left arm and that it meets the requirements of a Table injury claim for SIRVA stemming from the flu vaccination on September 6, 2016.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that “has met the statutory requirements for entitlement to compensation.” 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-01362-1 Date issued/filed: 2019-04-10 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/15/2019) regarding 19 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-01362-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/10/19 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1362V Filed: February 15, 2019 UNPUBLISHED ELIZABETH SCHNARR, 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. Bridget C. McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On September 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 sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), the symptoms of which began within 48 hours and lasted more than six months. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 8.The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On November 13, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On February 15, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $40,911.54, representing compensation in the amount of $40,000.00 for pain and 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-01362-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/10/19 Page 2 of 4 suffering and $911.54 for past loss of earnings. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 $40,911.54, representing compensation in the amount of $40,000.00 for pain and suffering and $911.54 for actual loss of earnings in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Elizabeth Schnarr. 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-01362-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/10/19 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ___________________________________ ) ELIZABETH SCHNARR, ) ) Petitioner, ) No. 18-1362V ECF ) v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ___________________________________ ) PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1 I. Procedural History On September 6, 2018, Elizabeth Schnarr (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to - 34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 6, 2016, she suffered from a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-4. On November 8, 2018, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding a Table injury for SIRVA. On November 13, 2018, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for SIRVA. II. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded a lump sum of $40,911.54 ($40,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $911.54 for past loss of earnings) for all damages. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which 1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after the Damages Decision is issued. Case 1:18-vv-01362-UNJ Document 29 Filed 04/10/19 Page 4 of 4 petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. III. Form of the Award Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $40,911.54, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees. 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 GABRIELLE M. FIELDING Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/Darryl R. Wishard DARRYL R. WISHARD Senior Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U. S. Department of Justice P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Direct dial: (202) 616-4357 Dated: February 15, 2019 Fax: (202) 616-4310 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. 2