United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Portock v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 15, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1653V

JENNIFER L. PORTOCK,

Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v.

Filed: October 15, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Richard H. Moeller, Moore, Heffernan, et al., Sioux City, IA, for Petitioner. Felicia Langel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On August 3, 2021, Jennifer L. Portock 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 21, 2020. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 13, 2024, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On October 11, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $49,691.20, consisting of $47,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,191.20 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 $49,691.20 (consisting of $47,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $2,191.20 in past unreimbursable 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS JENNIFER L. PORTOCK,

Petitioner, v. No. 21-1653V

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

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On August 3, 2021, Jennifer L. Portock (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”), following the administration of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 21, 2020. 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(XIV)(B); Petition at 1. On March 28, 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a combined Rule 4(c) Report and Response to Petitioner’s Motion for Ruling on the Record recommending that compensation be denied. See ECF No. 34. On August 13, 2024, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.1 See ECF No. 36.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $47,500.00 for 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 $2,191.20. 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

Respondent recommends that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through one lump sum payment, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:2 a lump sum payment of $49,691.20 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

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 Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division COLLEEN C. HARTLEY Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Felicia D. Langel FELICIA D. LANGEL 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) 305-3148 [email protected]

DATED: October 11, 2024

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). 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 Respondent has no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages set forth herein. Assuming the Chief Special Master issues a damages decision in conformity with this proffer, respondent waives his right to seek review of such damages decision. However, respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Chief Special Master’s August 13, 2024, entitlement decision. 2 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering.

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