Dennie v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided July 1, 2025·No. 24-1218V·Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1218V

JASMINE DENNIE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: May 27, 2025 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Elizabeth Kyla Abramson, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Julianna Rose Kober, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On August 8, 2024, Jasmine Dennie 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”) following an influenza vaccine administered on October 15, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On April 11, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On May 21, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation indicating Petitioner should be awarded $59,578.33 (consisting of $57,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,078.33 for unreimbursed expenses). Respondent’s Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Proffer”) at 2. In the Proffer,

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018). 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 Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $59,578.33 (consisting of $57,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,078.33 for unreimbursed expenses) to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).

The Clerk of 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 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

JASMINE DENNIE,

Petitioner,

v. No. 24-1218V Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES,

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On August 8, 2024, Jasmine Dennie (“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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”) from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 15, 2023. 1,2 Petition

(“Pet.”) at 1. On April 2, 2025, 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 April 11, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 21; ECF No. 23.

1 Petitioner’s name in the case caption was previously listed as Jasmine Felder. On January 7, 2025, petitioner’s name in the case caption was amended to Jasmine Dennie. ECF No. 16. 2 On October 15, 2023, petitioner also received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines against COVID-19 are not contained in the Vaccine Injury Table. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-14 and 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). Pursuant to the declaration issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 247d-6d, 247d-6e), claims for alleged injuries from COVID-19 countermeasures, including vaccines, may be compensable under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (“CICP”). See 85 Fed. Reg. 15198, 15202 (March 17, 2020). I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $57,500.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

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 $2,078.33. 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 3: A lump sum payment of $59,578.33 in the form of a

check to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt

disbursement to petitioner.

3 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 This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 4

Respectfully submitted,

YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting Assistant Attorney General

C.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Dennie v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, (uscfc 2025).

Dennie v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Dennie v. Secretary of Health and Human Services) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

§ 247d-6d
42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d
§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
§ 300aa-1
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-14
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-14
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4)
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a
§ 247d
42 U.S.C. § 247d