Jennings v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-0318V

ASHLEY JENNINGS, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: August 7, 2024 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Jonathan Joseph Svitak, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Woodridge, IL, for Petitioner.

Bridget Corridon, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On March 3, 2023, Ashley Jennings 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”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October 7, 2021. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the flu vaccine was administered in the United States, her pain and impairment lasted longer than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever filed any action or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 15, 17, 18. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On July 10, 2024, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 7, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of 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). compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $50,225.00. Proffer at 2. In the 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 $50,225.00 (comprised of $50,000.00 in pain and suffering and $225.00 for past unreimbursable 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 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

) ASHLEY JENNINGS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 23-318V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) )

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On March 3, 2023, Alice McCarthy (“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”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of a human

papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccine she received on October 7, 2021. Petition at 1. On July 8,

2024, 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 July 10, 2024, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement

finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 26; ECF No. 28.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00 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 $225.00. 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 $50,225.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Ashley Jennings: $50,225.00

Respectfully submitted,

BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO 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, unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 LARA A. ENGLUND Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

/s/ Bridget A. Corridon BRIDGET A. CORRIDON 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) 305-4117 Email: bridget.corridon@usdoj.gov

DATED: August 7, 2024