Court Opinion

ID: 2674761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-16 20:01:38.620309+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:34.526589
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                                                    No. 14-25V
                                                               Filed: April 25, 2014
                                                               Not for publication

*************************
GRACE BODDEN and                          *
DAMIAN BODDEN                             *
Legal representatives of a minor          *
Child, B.B.,                              *     Damages; Decision Based on Proffer;
                                          *     Rotavirus; Intussusception
                    Petitioners,          *
      v.                                  *
                                          *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *
                                          *
                    Respondent.           *
****************************
Carlos Allenby Bodden, Esq., Ellis, Ged & Bodden, Boca Raton, FL for petitioners.
Lindsay Corliss, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                                                       DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Gowen, Special Master:

        On January 10, 2014, Grace Bodden and Damian Bodden [“petitioners”] filed a
petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq.2 [the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”] as legal representatives of
a minor child, B.B., alleging that B.B. suffered from intussusception requiring surgical
intervention, which was caused-in-fact by the rotavirus vaccine B.B. received on April 9,
2012. Petition at 1. On April 24, 2014, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation, which indicated that petitioners agreed to the compensation amount.

                                                            
1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend
to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party has 14 days to identify and
move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B).
Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted
decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, I
will delete 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 (2006).
              Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award petitioners:

              1. A lump sum payment of $40,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
                 petitioners, Grace Bodden and Damian Bodden as
                 guardians/conservators of B.B.’s estate, representing compensation for
                 actual pain and suffering. No payments shall be made to petitioners until
                 petitioners provide respondent with current documentation establishing that
                 they have been appointed guardians/conservators of B.B.’s estate.

              2. A lump sum payment of $1,189.06 in the form of a check payable to
                 petitioners, Grace Bodden and Damian Bodden, representing
                 compensation for past unreimbursable medical expenses.

      These amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under § 300aa-15(a).

       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                               s/Thomas L. Gowen
                                                               Thomas L. Gowen
                                                               Special Master

 

                                                            
3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
                                         )
GRACE and DAMIAN BODDEN, as              )
legal representatives of a minor child,  )
B.B.,                                    )
                                         )
         Petitioners,                    )    No. 14-25V ECF
                                         )
                v.                       )    Special Master Gowen
                                         )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                      )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                      )
                                         )
         Respondent.                     )
___________________________________ )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On January 10, 2013, petitioners, on behalf of their son, Brandon Bodden (“B.B.”), filed a

petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (the

“Vaccine Act”), as amended. 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. Petitioners allege that, after B.B.

received the RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine on April 9, 2012, he suffered from intussusception,

requiring a surgical intervention. Petitioners allege a theory based on causation-in-fact. The

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

conceding that B.B. suffered from intussusception requiring surgical intervention after receipt of

the rotavirus vaccine, and recommending that petitioners be awarded compensation. Respondent

hereby submits the following proffer regarding the award of compensation. This proffer does

not address final attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. Petitioners are additionally entitled to

reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, to be determined at a later date upon petitioners

submitting substantiating documentation.
I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Future Medical Care Expenses

       Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of record, petitioners are not entitled to

an award for projected unreimbusable medical care expenses for B.B. incurred from the date of

judgment as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(A). Petitioners agree.

       B.      Lost Future Earnings

       Respondent proffers that based upon the evidence of record, B.B. has not, and he is not

likely to suffer a loss of earnings as a result of his vaccine injury. Accordingly, petitioners

should not be awarded lost future earnings as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C.

§ 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioners agree.

       C.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that petitioners should be awarded a lump sum of $40,000.00 for

B.B.’s actual pain and suffering as provided under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4).

Petitioners agree.

       D.      Past Unreimburseable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioners documents their expenditure of past unreimbursable

expenses related to B.B.’s vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioners should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,189.06. Petitioners agree.

       E.      Medicaid Lien

       Petitioners represent that there are no outstanding Medicaid liens related to B.B.’s

vaccine-related injury.

                                                  2
II.    Form of the Award

       The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioners, to be received on

behalf of B.B., should be made through a combination of lump sum payments as described

below, and request that the special master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the

following:

       A. A lump sum payment of $40,000.00, representing compensation for past actual pain

and suffering, in the form of a check payable to petitioners as guardians/conservators of B.B.’s

estate. No payments shall be made to petitioners until petitioners provide respondent with

current documentation establishing that they have been appointed guardians/conservators of

B.B.’s estate. If petitioners are not authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as

guardians/conservators of the estate of B.B., any such payment shall be made to the party or

parties appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of

the estate B.B. upon submission of written documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.

       B. A lump sum payment of $1,189.06, representing compensation for past

unreimbursable medical expenses, payable to petitioners.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment

       A.      Lump sum paid to petitioners as guardians/conservators of B.B.’s
               estate, representing compensation for actual pain and suffering: $         40,000.00

       B.      Lump sum paid to petitioners, representing compensation for past
               unreimbursable medical expenses:                                 $          1,189.06

                                                 3
                        Respectfully submitted,

                        STUART F. DELERY
                        Assistant Attorney General

                        RUPA BHATTACHARYYA
                        Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        VINCENT J. MATANOSKI
                        Deputy Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.
                        Assistant Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        /s/ Lindsay Corliss
                        LINDSAY CORLISS
                        Trial Attorney
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division
                        U. S. Department of Justice
                        P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
                        Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                        Direct dial: (202) 616-9197
Dated: April 24, 2014   Fax: (202) 616-4310

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