VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00992 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00992 Petitioner: Mary Katherine Scallion Filed: 2019-07-11 Decided: 2020-12-16 Vaccine: pneumococcal Vaccination date: 2018-10-11 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 94087 AI-assisted case summary: Mary Katherine Scallion filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on July 11, 2019, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving a pneumococcal vaccine on October 11, 2018. The respondent conceded that Petitioner's injury met the criteria for a Table injury, specifically SIRVA, with onset less than 48 hours after vaccination and no apparent alternative cause. A ruling on entitlement was issued on November 13, 2020, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on November 16, 2020, the respondent filed a proffer recommending an award of $94,086.89, consisting of $92,500.00 for pain and suffering and $1,586.89 for past unreimbursable expenses. Petitioner, an adult, agreed with the proffered award. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding the stipulated amount, totaling $94,086.89, as compensation for all damages. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00992-0 Date issued/filed: 2020-12-15 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 11/13/2020) regarding 26 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/15/20 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-0992V UNPUBLISHED MARY KATHERINE SCALLION, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: November 13, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Pneumococcal Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA) Nancy Routh Meyers, Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner. Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On July 11, 2019, Mary Katherine Scallion 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 from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as a result of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine administered on October 11, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On November 13, 2020, 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 states that Petitioner “has satisfied the criteria set forth in the recently revised Vaccine Injury Table (‘Table’) and the Qualifications and Aids 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/15/20 Page 2 of 2 to Interpretation (“QAI”), which afford petitioner a presumption of causation if the onset of SIRVA occurs less than 48 hours after a pneumococcal vaccination and there is no apparent alternative cause.” Id. at 4. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00992-1 Date issued/filed: 2020-12-16 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/16/2020) regarding 29 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 35 Filed 12/16/20 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-0992V UNPUBLISHED MARY KATHERINE SCALLION, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: November 16, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA) Nancy Routh Meyers, Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner. Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 11, 2019, Mary Katherine Scallion 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 from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as a result of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine administered on October 11, 2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that her injury lasted for more than six months. Petition at 3. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On November 13, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On November 16, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $94,086.89, (consisting of $92,500.00 in pain and suffering and $1,586.89 for past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury). Proffer at 1-2. In the 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 35 Filed 12/16/20 Page 2 of 5 Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $94,086.89, (consisting of $92,500.00 in pain and suffering and $1,586.89 for past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran 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 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 35 Filed 12/16/20 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) MARY KATHERINE SCALLION, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 19-992V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 11, 2019, Mary Katherine Scallion (“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”), as amended. Petitioner alleges that she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as a result of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine administered on October 11, 2018. Petition at 1. On November 13, 2020, 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 for a SIRVA Table injury, and on November 13, 2020, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 20; ECF No. 21. I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $92,500.00 in pain and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. Case 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 35 Filed 12/16/20 Page 4 of 5 B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,586.89. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees. These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 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 petitioner 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 $94,086.89, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Mary Katherine Scallion: $94,086.89 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. 2 Case 1:19-vv-00992-UNJ Document 35 Filed 12/16/20 Page 5 of 5 ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s Sarah B. Rifkin SARAH B. RIFKIN Trial Attorney U.S. Department of Justice Torts Branch, Civil Division P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington D.C. 20044-1046 Tel: (202) 305-5997 E-mail: Sarah.Rifkin@usdoj.gov DATED: November 16, 2020 3