In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-0108V
Filed: January 18, 2018
UNPUBLISHED
JEFFREY CAPUTO,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Petitioner, Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v. Influenza Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND (SIRVA)
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Bruce William Slane, Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for
petitioner.
Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On January 23, 2017, 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 he received a flu vaccine on October 2, 2015,
and that he subsequently suffered a right shoulder injury that included an impingement
syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, supraspinatus tendinosis, deltoid tendonitis, a rotator cuff
arthropathy/tear, acromioclavicular synovitis, and bicipital tenosynovitis. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On November 30, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for his shoulder injury. On January 18, 2018, respondent filed
a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$77,403.96. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). 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.
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).
with the proffered award. 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 $77,403.96 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Jeffrey Caputo. 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.
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
JEFFREY CAPUTO,
Petitioner, No. 17-108V
v. Chief Special Master Dorsey
ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES
On January 23, 2017, Jeffrey Caputo (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -
34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Respondent conceded petitioner’s entitlement to
compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on November 30, 2017. Based on Respondent’s Rule
4(c) Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.
I. Items of Compensation
Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
$77,403.96, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled
under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through a lump sum payment of $77,403.96, in the form of a check made payable to petitioner. 1
Petitioner agrees.
1
Should petitioner die prior to the 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, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
1
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAD A. READLER
Acting Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
CATHARINE E. REEVES
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/Jennifer L. Reynaud
JENNIFER L. REYNAUD
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) 305-1586
Date: January 18, 2018
2