Court Opinion

ID: 4527889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-22 20:02:15.626113+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:23.234943
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1524V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MICHAEL J. PERIARD,                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: March 23, 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.

Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for petitioner.

Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On October 2, 2018, Michael J. Periard 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 Guillain Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on November 22, 2014. Petition at
1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

      On March 2, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for GBS. On March 2, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should receive an amount sufficient to
purchase an annuity contract described in Section A of the Proffer and a lump sum
payment of $1,137,068.83 to Petitioner. Proffer at 1-3. In the Proffer, Respondent

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 3. 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. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in Section
       A of the proffer, paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity
       will be purchased; and

    b. A lump sum of $1,137,068.83, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

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/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
                  THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

MICHAEL J. PERIARD,

                       Petitioner,

v.                                                    No. 18-1524V
                                                      Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On February 24, 2020, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he recommended

that the Court find petitioner entitled to compensation, and on March 2, 2020, the Court entered

its Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Respondent now proffers

that petitioner receive an award as follows:

       A. Life Care Items Beginning on the First Anniversary of Judgment.

       Respondent proffers an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract described

below in this Section A of this Proffer, paid to the life insurance company from which the

annuity will be purchased (the “Life Insurance Company”).1

1
  Notwithstanding references herein to “the Life Insurance Company” or “the annuity contract,”
to satisfy the conditions set forth herein, in respondent’s sole and absolute discretion, respondent
may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one or more life insurance companies.
Moreover, the Life Insurance Company must have a minimum of $250,000,000 capital and
surplus, exclusive of any mandatory security valuation reserve. The Life Insurance Company
must have one of the following ratings from two of the following rating organizations:

       a.      A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;

       b.      Moody’s Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa;

                                                 1
       The Secretary of Health and Human Services agrees to purchase an annuity contract from

the Life Insurance Company for the benefit of petitioner, pursuant to which the Life Insurance

Company will agree to make payments periodically to petitioner for the following items of

compensation:

                For future medical service and medication expenses, beginning on
                the first anniversary of the date of judgment, an annual amount of
                $3,931.00 to be paid up to the anniversary of the date of judgment
                in year 2030, then beginning on the anniversary of the date of
                judgment in year 2030 an annual amount of $2,000.00 to be paid
                up to the anniversary of the date of judgment in year 2054, then
                beginning on the anniversary of the date of judgment in year 2054
                an annual amount of $1,000.00 to be paid for the remainder of
                petitioner’s life, all amounts increasing at the rate of four percent
                (4%), compounded annually from the date of judgment.

       At the sole discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the periodic

payments may be provided to petitioner in monthly, quarterly, annual or other installments. The

“annual amounts” set forth above describe only the total yearly sum to be paid to petitioner and

do not require that the payment be made in one annual installment. Petitioner will continue to

receive the annuity payments from the Life Insurance Company only so long as petitioner is

alive at the time that a particular payment is due. Written notice to the Secretary of Health and

Human Services and the Life Insurance Company shall be provided within twenty (20) days of

petitioner’s death.

       The annuity contract will be owned solely and exclusively by the Secretary of Health and

Human Services and will be purchased as soon as practicable following the entry of a judgment

in conformity with this Proffer. The parties agree that upon the purchase of the annuity contract,

       c.       Standard and Poor’s Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-,
                AA, AA+, or AAA;

       d.       Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability Rating:
                AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA.

                                                 2
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the United States of America are released from

any and all obligations with respect to future annuity payments.

       Petitioner authorizes respondent to disclose documents filed by petitioner in this case

consistent with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury

Compensation Program System of Records, No. 09-15-0056.

       B.      Remaining Compensation for Damages Available under
               42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

       In addition to the compensation proffered above in Section A of this Proffer, respondent

proffers a lump sum $1,137,068.83 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 This amount

represents all remaining compensation for damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(a).3

       Petitioner has reviewed the foregoing and agrees with the proffered award as stated above

in Sections A and B of this Proffer.4

                                              Respectfully submitted,

                                              JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                              Assistant Attorney General

                                              C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                              Acting Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

2
  This sum consists of $3,931.00 for future life care plan expenses for the first year following the
entry of judgment; $11,430.83 for past unreimbursed expenses; $160,000.00 for past and future
pain and suffering at net present value; and $961,707.00 for past and future loss of earnings at
net present value.
3
  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, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
4
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).

                                                 3
                       CATHARINE E. REEVES
                       Deputy Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                       Assistant Director
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                       s/ RYAN D. PYLES
                       RYAN D. PYLES
                       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) 616-9847

DATED: March 2, 2020

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