United States Court of Federal Claims, 2019

Furlano v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 18, 2019 · Nora Beth Dorsey

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1266V Filed: September 6, 2019 UNPUBLISHED

TINA FURLANO,

Petitioner, v. Special Processing Unit (SPU);

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; SECRETARY OF HEALTH Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder AND HUMAN SERVICES, Injury Related to Vaccine

Administration (SIRVA) Respondent.

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Colleen Clemons Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

On August 22, 2018, Tina Furlano (“petitioner”) 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 4, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 6, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On September 6, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $62,500.00 in pain and suffering damages. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $62,500.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Tina Furlano. 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/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

) TINA FURLANO, )

) Petitioner, )

) No. 18-1266V v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey

) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, )

) Respondent. )

) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On August 22, 2018, Tina Furlano (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury compensation alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 4, 2016. On August 5, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. On August 6, 2019, the Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation. The case is now in damages.

I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $62,500.00 in pain and suffering damages, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner be made through a lump sum payment of $62,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner agrees.

Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

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 ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Colleen C. Hartley COLLEEN C. HARTLEY Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Phone: (202) 616-3644 Fax: (202) 353-2988

DATED: September 6, 2019

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, undersigned is 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). 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). 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. 1 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, respondent reserves the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

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