         In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1373V
                                    Filed: September 5, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED


    JANICE RICHARDSON,

                        Petitioner,
    v.                                                       Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                             Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                             Administration (SIRVA)
                       Respondent.


Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On September 7, 2018, 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”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
September 21, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On August 7, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On September 4, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $143,258.99,

1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims'
website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal
Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services).

2National 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).
consisting of $140,000.00 for her past and future pain and suffering and $3,258.99 for
documented past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent
represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the 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 $143,258.99 (consisting of $140,000.00 for past
and future pain and suffering and $3,258.99 for documented past unreimbursable
expenses) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Janice Richardson. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master




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.


                                                      2
                     IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

JANICE RICHARDSON,

                           Petitioner,

               v.                                        No. 18-1373V
                                                         Chief Special Master Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                           Respondent.


                    RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

          On September 7, 2018, Janice Richardson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury

compensation alleging that she suffered a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

(“SIRVA”), a Table injury, following receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on

September 21, 2017. Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to

compensation on August 7, 2019. The Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement that

same day.

          I.         Items of Compensation

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

a total of $143,258.99, consisting of $140,000.00 for her past and future pain and suffering and

$3,258.99 for documented past unreimbursable expenses. This 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, the parties reserve the right to move the Court
for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future damages.
                                                  1
         II.    Form of the Award

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

through a lump sum payment of $143,258.99 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 2

Petitioner agrees.

                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                               Assistant Attorney General

                                               C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                               Acting Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                               Deputy Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                               Assistant Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               s/Lisa A. Watts
                                               LISA A. WATTS
                                               Senior 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) 616-4099

DATED: September 4, 2019




2
    Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
                                                 2
