O'Donoghue v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 20-391V UNPUBLISHED

CAITLIN O’DONOGHUE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: August 17, 2022 v.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Meningococcal Vaccine; Shoulder

Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA)

Jonathan Joseph Svitak, Shannon Law Group, Woodbridge, IL,, for Petitioner. Andrew Henning, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On April 6, 2020, Caitlin O’Donoghue 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 that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table injury, after receiving two meningococcal vaccines in her right deltoid on July 24, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 14, 17. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On May 9, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 17, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $47,500.00 representing pain and suffering, and $112.46 representing unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. 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 $47,612.46 ($47,500.00 representing pain and suffering and $112.46 representing unreimbursed 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

THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

CAITLIN O’DONOGHUE,

Petitioner, v. No. 20-391V (ECF)

Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND SPU HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On May 9, 2022, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 38. On May 9, 2022, 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”). ECF No. 39.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering and Out-of-Pocket Expenses Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $47,500.00 in pain and suffering, and $112.46 in out-of-pocket expenses. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). 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

The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $47,612.46, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

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

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/ ANDREW J. HENNING ANDREW J. HENNING 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) 616-4405 Email: [email protected] DATED: August 17, 2022