Case Information
*1 In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 22-1585V
Chief Special Master Corcoran CHARLES BENKIEL, Filed: May 20, 2025 Petitioner, v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent. Jonathan Joseph Svitak, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Woodridge, IL, for Petitioner. Neil Bhargava, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES
[1] On October 25, 2022, Charles Benkiel 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 suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza vaccination he received on October 1, 2021. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On January 24, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for his SIRVA. On May 19, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $37,500.00 for his pain and suffering. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.
*2 Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $37,500.00 for his pain and suffering to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. [3] IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master *3 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
)
CHARLES BENKIEL, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 22-1585V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND )
HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On October 25, 2022, Charles Benkiel (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3, as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on October 1, 2021. Petition at 1. On November 17, 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case was not appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 27. On January 22, 2024, petitioner filed a Motion for Ruling on the Record. ECF No. 29. Respondent filed his response on March 7, 2024 and on *4 January 24, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 30, 31.
I. ITEMS OF COMPENSATION
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $37,500.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
II. FORM OF THE AWARD
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following 2,3 : a lump sum payment of $37,500.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.
Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting Assistant Attorney General *5 C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Neil Bhargava NEIL BHARGAVA Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 305-3989 Neil.bhargava@usdoj.gov Dated: May 19, 2025
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[1] Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I 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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018).
[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.
[1] On October 1, 2021, petitioner received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines against COVID-19 are not contained in the Vaccine Injury Table. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-14 and 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). Pursuant to the declaration issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 247d-6d, 247d-6e), claims for alleged injuries from COVID-19 countermeasures, including vaccines, may be compensable under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (“CICP”). See 85 Fed. Reg. 15198, 15202 (March 17, 2020).
[2] 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, unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
[3] The entry of judgment awarding the compensation described herein in a Decision of the Special Master, resolves any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or hereafter could be timely brought against the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., (a) on account of, or in any way growing out of any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of petitioner that resulted from, or that may be alleged to have resulted from, the vaccinations identified herein, and (b) that petitioner has had, now has, or hereafter may have with respect to the injury that gave rise to the petition for vaccine compensation filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 22-1585V. 2