Lange v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1287V UNPUBLISHED

HALIE LANGE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: July 26, 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)

Brittany S. Cates, Faxon Law Group, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.

Kyle Edward Pozza, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On August 27, 2019, Halie Lange 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 adverse effects of an influenza (flu) vaccination she received on January 29, 2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccination was administered in the United States, she experienced the residual effects of the injury for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever filed any action for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at 1, 3. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On February 22, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On July 23, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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.

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). award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00.

Proffer at 1. The award is comprised of $85,000.00 for pain and suffering. Id. 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 $85,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

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.

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ____________________________________ ) HALIE LANGE, ) No. 19-1287V ) Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran Petitioner, ) ) v. ) ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On February 4, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report conceding that entitlement to compensation was appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 23.

On February 22, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) and related sequela. ECF No. 24.

I. Amount of Compensation Respondent now proffers that, based on the Chief Special Master’s entitlement ruling and the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $85,000.00. The award is comprised of $85,000.00 for pain and suffering. This amount 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 The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made as described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s damages decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

A. Petitioner’s Damages Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through: a lump sum of $85,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

Petitioner agrees.

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

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 TRACI R. PATTON 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 medical expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

/s/ KYLE E. POZZA_________ Kyle E. Pozza Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3661 Fax: (202) 616-4310 Email: [email protected]

Dated: July 23, 2021