In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-384V
Filed: December 9, 2014
Not for Publication
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GARY MARTZ, a Married Man, *
*
Petitioner, *
* Damages decision based on proffer;
v. * influenza (flu) vaccine; shoulder
* injury related to vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * administration (SIRVA)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
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Jay A. Bansal, Tempe, AZ, for petitioner.
Ann D. Martin, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On May 6, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2006), alleging that he suffered a left arm injury as a result of
the influenza (“flu”) vaccination he received on September 1, 2012. On September 9, 2014,
respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner suffered from a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and recommending compensation.
1
Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master's action in this case, the
special master intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims's website, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the
public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and
confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact
such information prior to the document=s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the
identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such
material from public access.
1
On December 9, 2014, respondent filed Respondent’s Proffer on Award of
Compensation. The undersigned finds the terms of the proffer to be reasonable. Based on the
record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to the award as stated in the
proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached proffer, the court awards a lump sum
payment of $120,000.00, representing all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The award shall be in the form of a check for
$120,000.00 made payable 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.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: December 9, 2014 /s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
)
GARY MARTZ, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 14-384V
v. ) Special Master Millman
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND )
HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
I. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
$120,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through a lump sum payment of $120,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Petitioner agrees.
Respectfully submitted,
JOYCE R. BRANDA
Acting Assistant Attorney General
RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
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 medical
expenses and future pain and suffering.
VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
LINDA S. RENZI
Senior Trial Counsel
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/ Ann D. Martin
ANN D. MARTIN
Senior Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Telephone: (202) 307-1815
Dated: December 9, 2014
2