Court Opinion

ID: 4560760
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-27 16:01:59.64909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:21:00.882317
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1614V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    FRANCES BASLER,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: July 27, 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.

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

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

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On October 18, 2018, Frances Basler 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 from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 15, 2015. See Petition.
Petitioner further alleges the onset of her GBS occurred between three and forty-two
days after her vaccination, that there is no alternative cause for her GBS, and that she
suffered symptoms related to her GBS for more than six months. Id. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

     On July 17, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS and related sequelae that she sustained following the

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
administration of the vaccination. ECF 39. On July 27, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded:

    1. An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract as described in
       “Section A” of the attached Proffer, paid to the life insurance company from which
       the annuity will be purchased (see also ECF 39 at 1-3); and

    2. A lump sum in the amount of $285,373.88 in the form of a check payable to
       Petitioner. 3

  In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered
award. ECF 39. 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 Proffer, I award Petitioner an amount
sufficient to purchase an annuity contract as described in “Section A” of the
attached Proffer and a lump sum payment of $285,373.88. This 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                          Chief Special Master

3
  This sum consists of $54,737.00 for future life care plan expenses for the first year following the entry of
judgment; $636.88 for past unreimbursed expenses; and $230,000.00 for past and future pain and
suffering at net present value. ECF 39 at 3.
4
  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

FRANCES BASLER,

                       Petitioner,

v.                                                    No. 18-1614V
                                                      Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On July 17, 2020, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he recommended that

the Court find petitioner entitled to compensation, and on July 17, 2020, the Court entered its

Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Specifically, based on

respondent’s recommendation, the Court found petitioner entitled to compensation for Guillain-

Barré syndrome and related sequelae that she sustained following the administration of an

influenza vaccination on October 15, 2015, and that petitioner’s claim satisfies the requirements

necessary to qualify as a Table injury under the Vaccine Injury Table. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

14(a)(XIV)(D), (c)(15). 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.

                                                 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:

       (a) For future insurance expenses, beginning on the first anniversary of the date
       of judgment, an annual amount of $3,758.07 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;

       (b) For medical care, ancillary services, equipment, and supplies, beginning on
       the first anniversary of the date of judgment, an annual amount of $1,957.60 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; and

       (c) For attendant care expenses, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of
       judgment, an annual amount of $27,746.40 to be paid up to the anniversary of the
       date of judgment in year 2024, then beginning on the anniversary of the date of
       judgment in year 2024 an annual amount of $36,871.40 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

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;

       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
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,

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 $285,373.88 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

2
  This sum consists of $54,737.00 for future life care plan expenses for the first year following
the entry of judgment; $636.88 for past unreimbursed expenses; and $230,000.00 for past and
future pain and suffering 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 and future pain and suffering. Petitioner makes no claim for future lost earnings.

                                                 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,

                                            ETHAN P. DAVIS
                                            Acting 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/ 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: July 27, 2020

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).

                                               4