In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 13-848V
(Not to be published)
*****************************
*
DEBBIE HARRIS, * Filed: October 30, 2014
*
Petitioner, * Entitlement; Off-Table Injury;
* Conceded; Decision by Proffer;
v. * Damages; Trivalent Influenza (“flu”)
* Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related
* to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * (“SIRVA”)
HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*****************************
Ronald Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Lara Englund, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
DECISION FINDING ENTITLEMENT AND AWARDING DAMAGES1
On October 29, 2013, Debbie Harris filed a petition seeking compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleged that she suffered from a
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving the trivalent
influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 18, 2011.
1
Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted on the website of
the United States Court of Federal Claims, 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)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To
do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any
information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is
privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute
a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the decision will be available to the
public. Id.
2
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa-10 – 34 (2006))
[hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to ' 300aa of the Act.
In her Rule 4(c) Report, filed on January 23, 2014, Respondent conceded that Petitioner’s
claim was compensable under the Act. Respondent specifically stated that the Division of
Vaccine Injury Compensation (“DVIC”), Department of Health and Human Services, had
reviewed the facts of this case and had concluded that Petitioner’s injury was consistent with
SIRVA. Accordingly, DVIC agreed that Petitioner’s claim satisfied the Althen requirements and
that she had proven her injury was caused-in-fact by a vaccination. Respondent indicated that no
other causes for Petitioner’s condition had been identified and the statutory six month sequelae
requirement had been satisfied. Therefore, the Rule 4(c) Report indicated that once Petitioner
established that no one had previously collected an award or settlement of civil damages on her
behalf, she would have satisfied the legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act, and
would be entitled to an award of damages.
In view of Respondent’s concession, on January 24, 2014, I issued an order indicating
that this case was ready for the damages phase.
On October 29, 2014, Respondent filed a proffer recommending an award of
compensation to Petitioner in accordance with the life care items of compensation as illustrated
by the spreadsheet analysis attached to the proffer as Tab A (a copy of which is also attached
here). I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the Respondent’s
proffer was reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set
forth therein.
The proffer awards Petitioner:
A lump sum of $207,030.12 representing the discounted present value of life care
expenses expected to be occurred over Debbie Harris’s life ($69,717.83), pain and
suffering ($135,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($2,312.29), in the form
of a check payable to Petitioner, Debbie Harris. This amount accounts for all
elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which Petitioner would
be entitled.
Proffer § 2.
Based on my own review of the record (See § 300aa-13(a)(1); 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(I), I
find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation for an injury that was caused-in-fact by a covered
vaccine. 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a)(XIV), 100.3(b)(2). I therefore approve a Vaccine Program award
in the requested amounts set forth above to be made to Petitioner. In the absence of a motion for
review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment
herewith.3
3
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or
separately) a notice renouncing their right to seek review.
2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Special Master
3
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
DEBBIE HARRIS, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) No. 13-848V
) Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
SECRETARY OF )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
I. Items of Compensation
A. Life Care Items
Respondent engaged life care planner Jacqueline Morris, RN, BSN, CRRN, CNLCP, and
petitioner engaged Maureen Clancy, RN, BSN, CLCP, to provide an estimation of petitioner’s
future vaccine-injury related needs. For the purposes of this proffer, the term “vaccine related”
is as described in respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report filed January 23, 2014. All life care items of
compensation are supported by the evidence and are illustrated by the spreadsheet analysis
entitled Appendix A: Discounted Present Value of Life Care Items of Compensation for Debbie
Harris, attached hereto as Tab A. 1 Respondent proffers that Debbie Harris should be awarded all
life care items of compensation as illustrated by the spreadsheet analysis attached at Tab A.
Petitioner agrees.
1
The chart at Tab A illustrates projected annual life care expenses, discounted over life
expectancy at the net discount rates indicated.
B. Lost Earnings
Petitioner has not submitted a claim for lost earnings and has not submitted any evidence
that would demonstrate that she is entitled to compensation for past or future lost earnings.
Thus, petitioner is not entitled to an award for lost earnings. Petitioner agrees.
C. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that Debbie Harris should be awarded $135,000.00 in actual and
projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award for projected pain and
suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner
agrees.
D. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by Debbie Harris documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable
expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that Debbie Harris should be
awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $2,312.29. Petitioner agrees.
E. Medicaid Lien
Petitioner represents that there are no Medicaid liens outstanding against Debbie Harris.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that the compensation provided to Debbie Harris should be made
through a lump sum payment as described below, and request that the special master’s decision
and the Court’s judgment award the following: 2
A. A lump sum payment of $207,030.12, representing the discounted present value of
life care expenses expected to be incurred over Debbie Harris’s life ($69,717.83),
2
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.
2
pain and suffering ($135,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($2,312.29), in
the form of a check payable to petitioner, Debbie Harris.
III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment
A. Lump sum paid to petitioner, Debbie Harris: $207,030.12
Respectfully submitted,
JOYCE R. BRANDA
Acting Assistant Attorney General
RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
ALTHEA W. DAVIS
Senior Trial Counsel
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
LARA A. ENGLUND
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) 307-3013
DATED: October 30, 2014
3
APPENDIX A: DISCOUNTED PRESENT VALUE OF LIFE CARE ITEMS OF COMPENSATION FOR DEBBIE HARRIS
Petitioner: Debbie Harris, D.O.B. 12/09/1960
Total Discounted Present Value of Life Care Items: $69,717.83
Annual Amounts Follow Anniversary Dates of Judgment
and discounted at 2% NDR for non-medical and 1% NDR for medical items
Medicare Medicare
Year from Group Part A & Part B Medicare Pain Adap.
Year Judgment Age Health B Deductible Medigap Part D Orthopedic Specialist MRI Motrin IB PT Eval OT Eval Grab Bars Equip
1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
* *
2014 0 54 - - - - - 118.00 - - 10.49 255.00 - - 32.12
2015 1 55 - - - - - - - - 10.28 - - - 3.15
2016 2 56 - - - - - - - - 10.08 - - - 3.09
2017 3 57 - - - - - 114.53 - - 9.88 240.29 - - 3.02
2018 4 58 - - - - - - - - 9.69 - - - 2.97
2019 5 59 - - - - - - - 891.52 9.50 - - - 2.91
2020 6 60 - - - - - 111.16 - - 9.31 226.43 - - 2.85
2021 7 61 - - - - - - - - 9.13 - - - 2.79
2022 8 62 - - - - - - - - 8.95 - - - 2.74
2023 9 63 - - - - - 107.89 - - 8.78 213.37 - - 2.69
2024 10 64 - - - - - - - - 8.61 - - - 2.63
2025 11 65 - - 131.76 - - - - - 8.44 - - - 2.58
2026 12 66 - - 130.46 - - 20.94 - - 8.27 40.21 - - 2.53
2027 13 67 - - 129.16 - - 6.92 - - 8.11 13.14 - - 2.48
2028 14 68 - - 127.88 - - 6.85 - - 7.95 12.88 - - 2.43
2029 15 69 - - 126.62 - - 6.78 - - 7.79 12.63 - - 2.39
2030 16 70 - - 125.36 - - 6.71 - - 7.64 12.38 - - 2.34
2031 17 71 - - 124.12 - - 6.65 - - 7.49 12.14 - - 2.29
2032 18 72 - - 122.89 - - 6.58 - - 7.34 11.90 - - 2.25
2033 19 73 - - 121.68 - - 6.51 - - 7.20 11.67 - - 2.20
2034 20 74 - - 120.47 - - 6.45 - - 7.06 11.44 - - 2.16
2035 21 75 - - 119.28 - - 6.39 - - 6.92 11.22 - - 2.12
2036 22 76 - - 118.10 - - 6.32 - - 6.79 11.00 - - 2.08
2037 23 77 - - 116.93 - - 6.26 - - 6.65 10.78 - - 2.04
2038 24 78 - - 115.77 - - 6.20 - - 6.52 10.57 - - 2.00
2039 25 79 - - 114.63 - - 6.14 - - 6.39 10.36 - - 1.96
2040 26 80 - - 113.49 - - 6.08 - - 6.27 10.16 - - 1.92
2041 27 81 - - 112.37 - - 6.02 - - 6.15 9.96 - - 1.88
2042 28 82 - - 111.25 - - 5.96 - - 6.03 9.76 - - 1.84
2043 29 83 - - 110.15 - - 5.90 - - 5.91 9.57 - - 1.81
0.00 0.00 2,292.37 0.00 0.00 581.24 0.00 891.52 239.62 1,166.86 0.00 0.00 102.26
Harris RESP Present Value Analysis 102214
APPENDIX A: DISCOUNTED PRESENT VALUE OF LIFE CARE ITEMS OF COMPENSATION FOR DEBBIE HARRIS
Petitioner: Debbie Harris, D.O.B. 12/09/1960
Total Discounted Present Value of Life Care Items: $69,717.83
Annual Amounts Follow Anniversary Dates of Judgment
and discounted at 2% NDR for non-medical and 1% NDR for medical items
Home
maker/ Mileage: Mileage:
Year from Computer Step Rubber Personal Snow Lawn Ortho- Pain
Year Judgment Age Equip Stool Bath Mat Heat Pad Care Handyman Removal Car Wash Tree Maint mower pedic Specialist
2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
2014 0 54 400.00 18.97 - - 2,160.00 - 416.00 125.00 220.00 314.14 1.10 -
2015 1 55 - 1.86 - - 2,117.65 - 407.84 122.55 215.69 - 0.36 -
2016 2 56 - 1.83 - - 2,076.12 - 399.85 120.15 211.46 - 0.36 -
2017 3 57 - 1.79 - - 2,035.42 - 392.01 117.79 207.31 - 0.35 -
2018 4 58 - 1.76 - - 1,995.51 - 384.32 115.48 203.25 - 0.34 -
2019 5 59 - 1.72 - - 1,956.38 - 376.78 113.22 199.26 284.53 0.34 -
2020 6 60 177.59 1.69 - - 1,918.02 - 369.40 111.00 195.35 - 0.33 -
2021 7 61 - 1.65 - - 1,880.41 - 362.15 108.82 191.52 - 0.32 -
2022 8 62 - 1.62 - - 1,843.54 - 355.05 106.69 187.77 - 0.32 -
2023 9 63 - 1.59 - - 1,807.39 - 348.09 104.59 184.09 - 0.31 -
2024 10 64 - 1.56 - - 1,771.95 - 341.26 102.54 180.48 257.70 0.30 -
2025 11 65 - 1.53 - - 1,881.98 - 334.57 100.53 176.94 - 0.30 -
2026 12 66 - 1.50 - - 1,845.07 - 328.01 98.56 173.47 - 0.29 -
2027 13 67 - 1.47 - - 1,808.90 - 321.58 96.63 170.07 - 0.29 -
2028 14 68 - 1.44 - - 1,773.43 - 315.28 94.73 166.73 - 0.28 -
2029 15 69 - 1.41 - - 1,738.65 - 309.09 92.88 163.46 - 0.27 -
2030 16 70 - 1.38 - - 1,704.56 - 303.03 91.06 160.26 - 0.27 -
2031 17 71 - 1.36 - - 1,671.14 - - - - - 0.26 -
2032 18 72 - 1.33 - - 1,638.37 - - - - - 0.26 -
2033 19 73 - 1.30 - - 1,606.25 - - - - - 0.25 -
2034 20 74 - 1.28 - - 1,574.75 - - - - - 0.25 -
2035 21 75 - 1.25 - - 1,543.88 - - - - - 0.24 -
2036 22 76 - 1.23 - - 1,513.60 - - - - - 0.24 -
2037 23 77 - 1.20 - - 1,483.92 - - - - - 0.23 -
2038 24 78 - 1.18 - - 1,454.83 - - - - - 0.23 -
2039 25 79 - 1.16 - - 1,426.30 - - - - - 0.23 -
2040 26 80 - 1.14 - - 1,398.34 - - - - - 0.22 -
2041 27 81 - 1.11 - - 1,370.92 - - - - - 0.22 -
2042 28 82 - 1.09 - - 1,344.04 - - - - - 0.21 -
2043 29 83 - 1.07 - - 1,317.68 - - - - - 0.21 -
577.59 60.47 0.00 0.00 51,659.00 0.00 6,064.31 1,822.22 3,207.11 856.37 9.18 0.00
Harris RESP Present Value Analysis 102214
APPENDIX A: DISCOUNTED PRESENT VALUE OF LIFE CARE ITEMS OF COMPENSATION FOR DEBBIE HARRIS
Petitioner: Debbie Harris, D.O.B. 12/09/1960
Total Discounted Present Value of Life Care Items: $69,717.83
Annual Amounts Follow Anniversary Dates of Judgment
and discounted at 2% NDR for non-medical and 1% NDR for medical items
Year from Mileage: Mileage: Mileage: Mileage: Mileage:
Year Judgment Age MRI PT OT Counselor YMCA Car Mods Annual Total
2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
2014 0 54 - 7.51 - - - 22.95 4,101.28
2015 1 55 - 2.45 - - - 4.50 2,886.33
2016 2 56 - 2.40 - - - 4.41 2,829.75
2017 3 57 - 2.36 - - - 4.33 3,129.08
2018 4 58 - 2.31 - - - 4.24 2,719.87
2019 5 59 2.37 2.26 - - - 4.16 3,844.95
2020 6 60 - 2.22 - - - 4.08 3,129.43
2021 7 61 - 2.18 - - - 4.00 2,562.97
2022 8 62 - 2.13 - - - 3.92 2,512.73
2023 9 63 - 2.09 - - - 3.84 2,784.72
2024 10 64 - 2.05 - - - 3.77 2,672.85
2025 11 65 - 2.01 - - - 3.69 2,644.33
2026 12 66 - 1.97 - - - 3.62 2,654.90
2027 13 67 - 1.93 - - - 3.55 2,564.23
2028 14 68 - 1.89 - - - 3.48 2,515.25
2029 15 69 - 1.86 - - - 3.41 2,467.24
2030 16 70 - 1.82 - - - 3.34 2,420.15
2031 17 71 - 1.79 - - - 3.28 1,830.52
2032 18 72 - 1.75 - - - 3.21 1,795.88
2033 19 73 - 1.72 - - - 3.15 1,761.93
2034 20 74 - 1.68 - - - 3.09 1,728.63
2035 21 75 - 1.65 - - - 3.03 1,695.98
2036 22 76 - 1.62 - - - 2.97 1,663.95
2037 23 77 - 1.59 - - - 2.91 1,632.51
2038 24 78 - 1.55 - - - 2.85 1,601.70
2039 25 79 - 1.52 - - - 2.80 1,571.49
2040 26 80 - 1.49 - - - 2.74 1,541.85
2041 27 81 - 1.46 - - - 2.69 1,512.78
2042 28 82 - 1.44 - - - 2.64 1,484.26
2043 29 83 - 1.41 - - - 2.58 1,456.29
2.37 62.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 123.23 69,717.83
Harris RESP Present Value Analysis 102214