Pendleton v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

• Court: United States Court of Federal Claims
• Decided: February 23, 2024
• Docket: 22-0454V
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-0454V

KATIE PENDLETON, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: January 23, 2024 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

David John Carney, Green & Schafle LLC, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.

Ronalda Elnetta Kosh, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On April 20, 2022, Katie Pendleton 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”), a defined Table injury or, in the alternative caused-in-fact injury, after receiving a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on May 27, 2021. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 3, 22-23. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 10, 2023, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On January 23, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00, representing compensation for pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent

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). 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 $85,000.00, representing compensation for pain and suffering 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 ____________________________________ ) KATIE PENDLETON, ) ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 22-454V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________)

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On April 20, 2022, Katie Pendleton (“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 Table shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), as the result of a Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination

received on May 27, 2021. Petition at 1. On October 10, 2023, 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 the same day the

Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.

ECF Nos. 24, 25.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00 in pain and suffering.

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

one lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision

and the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $85,000.00, in the form

of a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Katie Pendleton: $85,000.00

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

ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant 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 pain and suffering. s/ Ronalda E. Kosh RONALDA E. KOSH 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) 616-4476 Email: ronalda.kosh@usdoj.gov DATED: January 23, 2024