Starr v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1402V UNPUBLISHED

LETICIA STARR, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: August 10, 2022 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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Dhairya Divyakant Jani, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On October 16, 2020, Leticia Starr 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) after an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 3, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On January 19, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for a left SIRVA. ECF 32. On August 10, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $46,086.23, consisting of:

• $45,000.00 in pain and suffering, and • $1,086.23 in past unreimbursable expenses

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 $46,086.23 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS *****************************

* LETICIA STARR, *

* Petitioner, *

* v. * No. 20-1402V (ECF)

* CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER * BRIAN H. CORCORAN

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, *

* Respondent. *

*****************************

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On October 16, 2020, Leticia Starr (“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”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 3, 2018. Petition at 1. On January 3, 2022, 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 January 19, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 30; ECF No. 32.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00 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 $1,086.23. 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 1: a lump sum payment of $46,086.23, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Leticia Starr: $46,086.23

Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division DARRYL R. WISHARD Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ DHAIRYA D. JANI DHAIRYA D. JANI Trial Attorney U.S. Department of Justice Torts Branch, Civil Division P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-4356 Email: [email protected]

Dated: August 10, 2022