Monette-Stevens v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1442V

KRISTI MONETTE-STEVENS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: May 8, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Kathleen Margaret Loucks, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for Petitioner.

Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On September 17, 2024, Kristi Monette-Stevens 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 8, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 3, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On May 7, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $58,250.88, consisting of $57,500.00, in pain and suffering, and $750.88 for past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered 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.

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). 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 $58,250.88 (consisting of $57,500.00, in pain and suffering, and $750.88 for past unreimbursable expenses), to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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

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 ) KRISTI MONETTE-STEVENS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 24-1442V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On September 17, 2024, Kristi Monette-Stevens (“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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccine she received on October 8, 2023.1 Petition at 1. On March 3, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the Act for a SIRVA Table injury, and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 15-16.

On October 8, 2023, petitioner received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines against COVID-19 are not contained in the Vaccine Injury Table. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-14; 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). Pursuant to the declaration issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 247d-6d, 247d-6e), claims for alleged injuries from COVID-19 countermeasures, including vaccines, may be compensable under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (“CICP”). 85 Fed. Reg. 15198, 15202 (Mar. 17, 2020).

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $57,500.00 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 $750.88. 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: a lump sum payment of $58,250.88, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.2,3

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 pain and suffering, future unreimbursed expenses, and future lost earnings.

The entry of judgment awarding the compensation described herein in a Decision of the Special Master resolves any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or hereafter could be timely brought against the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., (a) on account of, III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Kristi Monette-Stevens: $58,250.88 Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting 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/ Rachelle P. Bishop RACHELLE P. BISHOP Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 616-3662 [email protected] DATED: May 7, 2025 or in any way growing out of any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of petitioner that resulted from, or that may be alleged to have resulted from, the vaccinations identified herein, and (b) that petitioner has had, now has, or hereafter may have with respect to the injury that gave rise to the petition for vaccine compensation filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 24-1442V.