VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00348 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00348 Petitioner: Sheri Conerty Filed: 2021-09-28 Decided: 2021-11-22 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2018-10-01 Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 95786 AI-assisted case summary: Sheri Conerty filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) as a result of her October 1, 2018 influenza vaccination. The petition stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she suffered residual effects for more than six months, and that there had been no prior award or settlement. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Petitioner is entitled to compensation, finding her condition consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, Respondent noted that Petitioner had no pre-vaccination history of shoulder issues, pain occurred within 48 hours post-vaccination, and the pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the shoulder of injection, with no other identified condition explaining the symptoms. Based on Respondent's concession and the evidence, a ruling on entitlement was issued finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. Subsequently, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing $95,000.00 for pain and suffering and $786.30 for past unreimbursable expenses, totaling $95,786.30. Petitioner agreed with this proffered award. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding Petitioner the lump sum of $95,786.30, representing compensation for all damages available under the Act. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00348-0 Date issued/filed: 2021-10-28 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 09/28/2021) regarding 25 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 32 Filed 10/28/21 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-348V UNPUBLISHED SHERI CONERTY, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: September 28, 2021 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA) Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On March 26, 2020, Sheri Conerty 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 Table Injury – Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) – as a result of her October 1, 2018 influneza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. See Petition at ¶¶ 2, 17-19. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 32 Filed 10/28/21 Page 2 of 2 On September 23, 2021, 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 DICP [Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Department of Health and Human Services] has concluded that [P]etitioner’s medical course is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and corresponding Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Specifically, [P]etitioner had no pre-vaccination history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality, such as brachial neuritis, has been identified to explain [P]etitioner’s shoulder pain. 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a) & (c)(10). Additionally, based on the medical records outlined above, [P]etitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months. Therefore, based on the record as it now stands, [P]etitioner 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. at 7. 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_20-vv-00348-1 Date issued/filed: 2021-11-22 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/14/2021) regarding 28 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 33 Filed 11/22/21 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-348V UNPUBLISHED SHERI CONERTY, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: October 14, 2021 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA) Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On March 26, 2020, Sheri Conerty 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 Table Injury – Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) – as a result of her October 1, 2018 influneza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On September 28, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On October 13, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $95,786.30 in compensation (representing $95,000.00 for pain and suffering and $786.30 for past unreimbursed expenses) Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 33 Filed 11/22/21 Page 2 of 5 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 $95,786.30 (representing $95,000.00 for pain and suffering and $786.30 for past unreimbursed expenses) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 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 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 33 Filed 11/22/21 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS SHERI CONERTY, Petitioner, No. 20-348V v. Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On March 26, 2020, Sheri Conerty (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. The Petition alleges that petitioner received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine in her left deltoid on October 1, 2018, and subsequently suffered from a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. On September 23, 2021, 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 September 28, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 24 and 25. I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00 in pain and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. 1 Case 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 33 Filed 11/22/21 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 $786.30. 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 following: a lump sum payment of $95,786.30, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1 III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Sheri Conerty: $95,786.30 Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN 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 1:20-vv-00348-UNJ Document 33 Filed 11/22/21 Page 5 of 5 LARA A. ENGLUND Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Adriana Teitel ADRIANA TEITEL Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3677 Email: adriana.teitel@usdoj.gov Dated: October 13, 2021 3