In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 18-0138V 

UNPUBLISHED 

MADISON EDWARDS, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: December 13, 2019 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Decision Awarding Damages; Pain 

and Suffering; Meningococcal 

Vaccine; Vasovagal Syncope 

 

Damon Louis Beard, Townsley Law Firm, Lake Charles, LA, for petitioner. 

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

 On January 28, 2019, Madison Edwards 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 syncopal episode upon receiving a 

meningitis vaccination on January 29, 2016, which resulted in “injuries, including fractured 

jaw, ruptured eardrum, chin laceration and fractured teeth.” Petition at Preamble, ¶6. The 

case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 

On October 5, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued finding Petitioner entitled 

to compensation. On December 12, 2019, Respondent filed a proffer on award of 

compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded damages in the amount

$101,287.69, representing compensation in the amount of $100,000.00 for actual pain 

and suffering, $915.00 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $372.69 for payment of a 

Medicaid lien. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner 

 

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required 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). This means the ruling 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa 

(2012). 
2

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. 

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner the 

following: 

a) lump sum payment of $372.69, representing compensation for full satisfaction of 

a State of Louisiana Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to 

Petitioner and 

AmeriHealth Caritas Medicaid 

c/o Discovery Health Partners 

2 Pierce Place, Suite 1900 

Itasca, IL 60143 

Case Number: 95576 

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to AmeriHealth Caritas Medicaid. 

b) a lump sum of $100,915.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This 

amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be 

available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) 

The clerk of the 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 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

MADISON EDWARDS,

Petitioner, 

 v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent.

 No. 19-138V

 Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)

 ECF

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I. Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

On October 4, 2019, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner is 

entitled to vaccine compensation for her vasovagal syncope that occurred following receipt of a 

meningococcal vaccination. The Chief Special Master’s Ruling on Entitlement, adopting 

respondent’s recommendation, was issued the same day. 

Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner1 should be awarded 

$101,287.69. This is comprised of pain and suffering ($100,000.00), unreimbursable out of 

pocket expenses ($915.00), and payment of a Medicaid lien ($372.69), and represents all elements 

of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).2 Petitioner 

agrees. 

 1 Petitioner is a competent adult, therefore evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

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 medical 

expenses and future pain and suffering. 
2

II. Form of the Award 

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made 

through: 

a) lump sum payment of $372.69, representing compensation for full satisfaction 

of a State of Louisiana Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to 

petitioner and 

AmeriHealth Caritas Medicaid

c/o Discovery Health Partners

2 Pierce Place, Suite 1900

Itasca, IL 60143

Case Number: 95576

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to AmeriHealth Caritas Medicaid.

b) a lump sum of $100,915.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This 

amount represents compensation for all remaining damages that would be 

available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

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

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

/s/ Adriana Teitel

ADRIANA TEITEL

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, DC 20044-0146

Dated: December 12, 2019 Tel: (202) 616-3677