Court Opinion

ID: 4519103
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-24 20:02:28.112529+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:52:28.445518
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1304V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    ESMERALDA BARRERA,                                        Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: February 12, 2020
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                              Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                        Respondent.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.

Ida Nassar, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On August 28, 2018, Esmeralda Barrera 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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a
result of an influenza vaccine she received on September 20, 2016. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On September 11, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for GBS. On February 12, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $110,799.25.
Proffer at 2. Respondent further proffered that Petitioner should be awarded funds to
satisfy a Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS) Medicaid lien in the
amount of $2,873.34. Id. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 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.

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. 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 a lump
sum payment of $110.799.25 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. I further
award a lump sum payment of $2,873.34, representing compensation for
satisfaction of the MDHS Medicaid lien, payable jointly to Petitioner and the
MDHS. These amounts 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/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.

                                                      2
                  IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                    )
 ESMERALDA BARRERA,                                 )
                                                    )
                  Petitioner,                       )
                                                    )    No. 18-1304V
 v.                                                 )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
                  Respondent.                       )
                                                    )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

          On August 28, 2018, Esmeralda Barrera (“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 she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome as a result of an

influenza vaccine she received on September 20, 2016. Petition at 1. On September 10, 2019,

the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating

that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act, and the Chief Special

Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation on September

11, 2019. ECF No. 24; ECF No. 26.

I.        Items of Compensation

          A.     Pain and Suffering

          Respondent proffers that Esmeralda Barrera should be awarded $100,000.00 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.
       B.      Lost Earnings

       The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, petitioner has suffered past loss

of earnings. Therefore, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost earnings

as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Respondent proffers that the

appropriate award for petitioner’s lost earnings is $10,799.25. Petitioner agrees.

       C.      Satisfaction of Medicaid Lien

       Respondent further proffers that Esmeralda Barrera should be awarded funds to satisfy a

Minnesota Department of Human Services (“MDHS”) Medicaid lien in the amount of $2,873.34,

which represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of

action MDHS may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments that MDHS

has made to or on behalf of Esmeralda Barrera from the date of her eligibility for benefits

through the date of judgment in this case as a result of her vaccine-related injury suffered on or

about September 10, 2019, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. 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 be made through two

lump sum payments as described below:

       1)      A lump sum payment of $110,799.25 in the form of a check payable to

       petitioner. 1

       2)      A lump sum payment of $2,873.34, representing compensation for satisfaction of
               the MDHS Medicaid lien, payable jointly to petitioner and to:

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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2
                         Minnesota Department of Human Services
                                      PO Box 64994
                                St. Paul, MN 55164-0994
                                Memo: Esmeralda Barrera

      Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to Minnesota Department of Human Services.

                                         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

                                         ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                         Assistant Director
                                         Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                         /s/ Ida Nassar
                                         IDA NASSAR
                                         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) 616-4186

DATED: February 12, 2020

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