Court Opinion

ID: 4682859
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-30 16:02:03.565759+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:11.480798
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** *
MARIE BROWN,             *
                         *                         No. 18-786V
             Petitioner, *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                         Filed: April 9, 2021
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         Damages; decision based on proffer;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         influenza (“flu”) vaccination;
                         *                         Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Leah Durant, Law Offices of Leah Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner;
Kimberly Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

            UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On June 4, 2018, Marie Brown filed a petition seeking compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq.,
alleging that the influenza (“flu”) vaccination caused her to suffer Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”). On May 8, 2020, the undersigned issued a Ruling on
Entitlement, concluding that petitioner is entitled to compensation under the
Vaccine Act.

       On April 1, 2021, respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation, to
which petitioner agrees. Based upon the record as a whole, the special master
finds the proffer reasonable and that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in
the Proffer. Pursuant to the attached Proffer, with Tab A, the court awards
petitioner:
       1 The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa -12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
1.      A lump sum payment of $208,277.05, representing compensation for life
        care expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after
        judgment ($25,126.35), pain and suffering ($180,000.00), and past
        unreimbursable expenses ($3,150.70), in the form of a check payable to
        petitioner, Marie Brown; and

2.      An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract, subject to the
        conditions described in the attached Proffer (attached as Appendix A),
        that will provide payments for the life care items contained in the life
        care plan, as illustrated by the chart at Tab A (attached as Appendix B),
        paid to the life insurance company from which the annuity will be
        purchased. Compensation for Year Two (beginning on the first
        anniversary of the date of judgment) and all subsequent years shall be
        provided through respondent’s purchase of an annuity, which annuity
        shall make payments directly to petitioner, Marie Brown, only so long
        as Marie Brown is alive at the time a particular payment is due. At the
        Secretary’s sole discretion, the periodic payments may be provided to
        petitioner in monthly, quarterly, annual, or other installments. The
        “annual amounts” set forth in the chart at Tab A describe only the total
        yearly sum to be paid to petitioner and do not require that the payment
        be made in one annual installment.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment in case 18-786V according to this decision
and the attached proffer.2

        Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Jason Wiener, at (202) 357-
6360.

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                     s/Christian J. Moran
                                                     Christian J. Moran
                                                     Special Master

        2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court o f Federal
Claims judge.