Court Opinion

ID: 4670075
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-22 12:02:42.91161+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:31.903995
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-0536V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    CHARLES BRANDT,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: February 17, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                                Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                         Respondent.

Theodore J. Hong, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

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

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On April 11, 2019, Charles Brandt 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 from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”)
as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on September 30, 2017.
Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that his vaccine related injuries have lasted more
than six months after the administration of the vaccine. Petition at 6. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

      On May 22, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On February 17, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $178,969.98, for all
damages, including $165,000.00 representative of pain and suffering, and $13,969.98
representative of out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer,

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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

      Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $178,969.98, for all damages (including $165,000.00 representative of
pain and suffering, and $13,969.98 representative of out-of-pocket medical and related
expenses) 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
            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                      OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 CHARLES BRANDT,

                       Petitioner,
                                                      No. 19-536V
       v.                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)
                                                      ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Procedural History

       On April 11, 2019, Charles Brandt (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. He alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on September 30,

2017, he suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”). See Petition at 1, 6. On May 22,

2020, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as

defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe, and the Chief Special Master

Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for

a GBS Table injury. ECF No. 26; ECF No. 27.

II.    Items of Compensation

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

a lump sum of $178,969.98, for all damages, including $165,000.00 representative of pain and

suffering, and $13,969.98 representative of out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. This

amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III.   Form of the Award

       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: A lump sum payment of $178,969.98 in

the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 Petitioner agrees.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                      Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                      HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                      Acting Deputy Director
                                                      Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                      ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                      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
                                                      Tel: (202) 616-3677

Dated: February 17, 2021

1
 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future
medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the
right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
                                                 2