        In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-0609V
                                   Filed: December 14, 2015
                                          Unpublished

****************************
THEODORE JOHN THIES,       *
                           *
              Petitioner,  *                               Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                           *                               Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
                           *                               Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                               (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                               (“SPU”)
                           *
              Respondent.  *
                           *
****************************

Jeffrey Pop, Attorney at Law, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Douglas Ross, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 16, 2015, Theodore John Thies (”petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C.
§300aa-10, et seq., 2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleged that he
suffered a shoulder injury as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him
on October 9, 2013. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of
the Office of Special Masters.

       On August 6, 2015, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). On
December 14, 2015, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”)
indicating petitioner should be awarded $105,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer,
respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Based on the
1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated
in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $105,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Theodore John Thies. 3 This amount represents compensation for all
damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master




3
  “Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the right to move
the Court for appropriate relief.” Proffer at 1, fn. 1.
4
  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

************************** * *
                              *
THEODORE JOHN THIES,          *
                              *
              Petitioner,     *
                              *
v.                            *                              No. 15-609V (ECF)
                             *                               CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
                              *                              NORA BETH DORSEY
SECRETARY OF HEALTH           *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,           *
                              *
              Respondent.     *
*****************************

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION


        On August 6, 2015, the Chief Special Master found that a preponderance of the medical

evidence indicates that petitioner suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), which was causally related to the flu vaccination he received on October 9, 2013.

The parties proceeded thereafter to address the amount of compensation to be awarded in this

case.

I.      Item of Compensation

        Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

a total lump sum of $105,000.00, which amount represents all elements of compensation to

which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.




1
  Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future
medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the
right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $105,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

Petitioner agrees.

                                           Respectfully submitted,

                                           BENJAMIN C. MIZER
                                           Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

                                           RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                                           Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                                           Deputy Director
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                           Senior Trial Attorney
                                           Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                           /s/ DOUGLAS ROSS
                                           DOUGLAS ROSS
                                           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) 616-3667

DATE: December 14, 2015




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