Court Opinion

ID: 6305235
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 18:01:34.137118+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:28.986968
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1545V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    MEI H. LI,                                                  Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: January 19, 2022
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                                Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                         Respondent.

Timothy James Lessman, Knutson & Casey Law Firm, Mankato, MN, for Petitioner.

Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On October 3, 2019, Mei Li 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-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 17, 2016. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On July 7, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for Table injury of GBS following a flu vaccination. ECF No. 21. On January
18, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating
Petitioner should be awarded the following compensation:

         •   A lump sum of $180,765.34, representing $160,000.00 for Petitioner’s pain and
             suffering, $16,547.73 for first-year life care expenses, and $4,217.61 for past
1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
        unreimbursed expenses, to be paid in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
        Proffer at ¶II(A).

    •   An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in the Proffer at
        Paragraph II(B). Proffer at ¶II(B).

       In the Proffer, 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 $180,765.34 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner and an
amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in the Proffer at
Paragraph II(B). These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be
available under Section 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

                                                   )
MEI H. LI,                                         )
                                                   )
               Petitioner,                         )
                                                   )    No. 19-1545V
v.                                                 )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                   )    ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
SERVICES,                                          )
                                                   )
               Respondent.                         )
                                                   )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On October 3, 2019, Mei H. Li (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or

“Act”), alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from an influenza

(“flu”) vaccination she received on October 17, 2016. See Petition at 1. On July 1, 2020, the

Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding

that petitioner suffered the Table injury of GBS following a flu vaccine within the Table time

period and that she is entitled to compensation. See ECF No. 20. Accordingly, on July 7, 2020,

the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to

vaccine compensation for GBS following the influenza vaccine she received on October 17,

2016. See ECF No. 21.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Life Care Items

       Respondent engaged life care planner Linda Curtis, RN MS, CNLCP, CCM, and

petitioner engaged Tresa Johnson, RN, BSN, CNLCP, CMC, to provide an estimation of

petitioner’s future vaccine-injury related needs. For the purposes of this proffer, the term
“vaccine related” is as described in the respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report. All items of

compensation identified in the life care plan are supported by the evidence, and are illustrated by

the chart entitled Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Mei H. Li, attached hereto as Tab A.

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded all items of compensation set forth in the

life care plan and illustrated by the chart attached at Tab A. Petitioner agrees.

          B.     Pain and Suffering

          Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $160,000.00 in actual and

projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that any award for projected pain and

suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner

agrees.

          C.     Past Unreimbursable Expenses

          Evidence supplied by petitioner documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable

expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $4,217.61. Petitioner agrees.

II.       Form of the Award

          The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a combination of lump sum payments and future annuity payments as described below,

and request that the Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:1

          A. A lump sum payment of $180,765.34, representing compensation for life care

expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after judgment ($16,547.73), pain and

          1
         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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

                                                  2
suffering ($160,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($4,217.61) in the form of a check

payable to petitioner, Mei H. Li.

       B. An amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract,2 subject to the conditions

described below, that will provide payments for the life care items contained in the life care plan,

as illustrated by the chart at Tab A, attached hereto, paid to the life insurance company3 from

which the annuity will be purchased.4 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,

Mei H. Li, only so long as petitioner 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.

       2
         In respondent’s discretion, respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts
from one or more life insurance companies.
       3
          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.
       4
         Petitioner authorizes the disclosure of certain documents filed by the 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.
                                                 3
       1.      Growth Rate

       Respondent proffers that a four percent (4%) growth rate should be applied to all non-

medical life care items, and a five percent (5%) growth rate should be applied to all medical life

care items. Thus, the benefits illustrated in the chart at Tab A that are to be paid through annuity

payments should grow as follows: four percent (4%) compounded annually from the date of

judgment for non-medical items, and five percent (5%) compounded annually from the date of

judgment for medical items. Petitioner agrees.

       2.      Life-contingent annuity

       Petitioner will continue to receive the annuity payments from the Life Insurance

Company only so long as she, Mei H. Li, is alive at the time that a particular payment is due.

Written notice shall be provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Life

Insurance Company within twenty (20) days of Mei H. Li’s death.

       3.      Guardianship

       Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.      Lump Sum paid to petitioner, Mei H. Li:                               $180,765.34

       B.      An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described
               above in section II.B.

                                                 4
                          Respectfully submitted,

                          BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                          Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                          HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                          Deputy Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division

                          s/Darryl R. Wishard
                          DARRYL R. WISHARD
                          Assistant Director
                          Torts Branch, Civil Division
                          U.S. Department of Justice
                          P.O. Box 146
                          Benjamin Franklin Station
                          Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                          Tel: (202) 616-4357

Dated: January 18, 2022

                             5
                                          Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Mei H. Li                                Page 1 of 1

                                              Lump Sum
                                             Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation
  ITEMS OF COMPENSATION             G.R. * M    Year 1       Year 2      Years 3-4   Years 5-Life
                                                 2022         2023      2024-2025     2026-Life
Medicare Adv Deductible             5%             150.00        150.00      150.00        150.00
Primary Care Provider               5% *            18.10         18.10        18.10        18.10
EMG                                 5% *            33.10
Orthopedist                         5% *            24.75         24.75        24.75        24.75
Swallow Study                       5% *            79.20
Physical Therapy Evaluation         4% *            12.00         12.00        12.00        12.00
Physical Therapy                    4% *           180.00        180.00        60.00        60.00
Gym Membership                      4% *
Tylenol                             4%     M        61.98         61.98                     61.98
Bengay Patches                      4%     M       370.11        370.11        61.98       370.11
Metamucil                           4%     M        70.41         70.41      370.11         70.41
Dulcolax                            4%     M       262.51        262.51        70.41       262.51
Walker                              4%             184.64         30.77      262.51         30.77
Manual Wheelchair                   4% *            42.50          8.50                      8.50
Wheelchair Cushion                  4% *             7.95          2.65        30.77         2.65
Cushion Cover                       4%              20.68         10.34         8.50        10.34
Wheelchair Pack                     4%              36.22          7.24         2.65         7.24
Portable Ramp                       4%             508.50                      10.34
Poise Pads                          4%     M       356.72        356.72         7.24       356.72
Rocker Knife                        4%              58.20         11.64                     11.64
Hand Held Shower                    4%              35.92          7.18      356.72          7.18
Raised Toilet Seat                  4%              83.87         16.77        11.64        16.77
Grab Bars & Install                 4%             205.00                       7.18
Tub Transfer Bench                  4%             132.93         26.59        16.77        26.59
Extension of Driveway               4%           2,800.00
Ramp                                4%           1,980.00                      26.59
Life Alert                          4%     M       589.40        539.40                    539.40
Non-Skilled Care                    4%     M     8,243.04      8,243.04                 12,364.56
Pain and Suffering                             160,000.00                    539.40
Past Unreimbursable Expenses                     4,217.61                  8,243.04
Annual Totals                                         180,765.34        10,410.70       10,290.70        14,412.22
Note: Compensation Year 1 consists of the 12 month period following the date of judgment.
Compensation Year 2 consists of the 12 month period commencing on the first anniversary of the date of judgment.
As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to petitioner for Yr 1 life care
expenses ($16,547.73), pain and suffering ($160,000.00), and past unreimbursable expenses ($4,217.61): $180,765.34.
Annual amounts payable through an annuity for future Compensation Years follow the anniversary of the date of judgment.
Annual amounts shall increase at the rates indicated above in column G.R., compounded annually from the date of judgment.
Items denoted with an asterisk (*) covered by health insurance and/or Medicare.
Items denoted with an "M" payable in twelve monthly installments totaling the annual amount indicated.