Court Opinion

ID: 4570680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-29 16:01:57.943691+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:47:00.618025
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-408V
                                   Filed: September 4, 2020

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DOROTHY E. COOPER,      *                                          UNPUBLISHED
                        *
         Petitioner,    *                                          Decision on Damages;
                        *                                          Guillain-Barre Syndrome
v.                      *                                          (“GBS”); Influenza (“Flu”)
                        *                                          Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH     *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,     *
                        *
         Respondent.    *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nancy Meyers, Esq., Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner.
Camille Collett, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Roth, Special Master:

       On March 22, 2017, Dorothy Cooper [“Ms. Cooper” or “petitioner”] filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that
she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination
on March 4, 2016. See Petition, ECF No. 1.

        Respondent thereafter filed a report pursuant to Vaccine Rule 4(c) conceding that
petitioner’s injury was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccination that she received on March 4, 2016,
and that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Report at 1, ECF No. 12.

1 Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-
347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the Decision’s
inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party
has fourteen days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is
a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public. Id.
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).
        On November 13, 2017, I issued a ruling on entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled
to compensation. See Ruling on Entitlement, ECF No. 13. On August 25, 2020, the parties filed a
joint status report advising that petitioner and respondent had reached a proffer agreement. See
Joint Status Report, ECF No. 63.

       Respondent filed a proffer on September 3, 2020, agreeing to issue the following payments:

           A lump sum of $260,959.15, representing $150,000.00 for past and future pain and
           suffering, $88,160.35 in lost earnings, $14,756.47 in past unreimburseable medical
           expenses, and $8,042.23 in future out-of-pocket expenses, in the form of a check
           payable to petitioner, Dorothy Cooper. This amount represents compensation for all
           damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

           A lump sum in the amount of $3,212.81, representing funds to fully satisfy the
           North Carolina Division of Health Benefits Medicaid lien, payable jointly to the
           petitioner, Dorothy Cooper, and to:

                   North Carolina Division of Health Benefits
                   Office of the Controller
                   2022 Mail Service Center
                   Raleigh, NC 27699-2022.

        I adopt respondent’s proffer attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance
with this decision. 3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                             Mindy Michaels Roth
                                             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.
                                                2
                  IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

DOROTHY E. COOPER,                           )
                                             )
                   Petitioner,               )       No. 17-408V
                                             )       Special Master
             v.                              )       Mindy Michaels Roth
                                             )       ECF
                                             )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                          )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                          )
                                             )
                  Respondent.                )
                                             )

           RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

    I.             Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items:

          On November 12, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he

conceded entitlement. On November 13, 2017, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement,

finding that petitioner is entitled to compensation for her Guillain-Barre Syndrome

(“GBS”). Respondent now proffers that petitioner receive an award of a lump sum of

$260,959.15, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. The award is comprised of the

following: $150,000.00 for past and future pain and suffering, $88,160.35 in lost

earnings, $14,756.47 in past unreimbursable medical expenses, and $8,042.23 in future

out-of-pocket expenses. This amount represents compensation for all elements of

compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled. 1 Petitioner

agrees.

1
  Should petitioner die prior to the 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.

                                             1
          Respondent further proffers that petitioner, Dorothy E. Cooper, should be awarded

funds to satisfy, in full, the North Carolina Division of Health Benefits Medicaid lien in

the amount of $3,212.81, which represents satisfaction of any right of subrogation,

assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the State of North Carolina may have against

any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the State of North Carolina has made

to or on behalf of Dorothy E. Cooper from the date of her eligibility for benefits through

the date of judgment in this case as a result of her vaccine-related injury, under Title XIX

of the Social Security Act.

    II.      Form of the Award:

          The parties recommend that the compensation provided to Dorothy E. Cooper

should be made through two lump sum payments as described below, and request that the

special master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: 2

          (1) A lump sum payment of $260,959.15, in the form of a check payable to
              petitioner, Dorothy E. Cooper. This amount accounts for all elements of
              compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be
              entitled; and

          (2) A lump sum payment of $3,212.81, representing compensation for satisfaction
              of the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance Medicaid lien, payable
              jointly to petitioner and to:

                         North Carolina Division of Health Benefits
                                  Office of the Controller
                                 2022 Mail Service Center
                                 Raleigh, NC 27699-2022

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to North Carolina Division of Medical

Assistance.

2
  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.

                                              2
        Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this

case.

                                              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

                                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              s/ Camille M. Collett
                                              CAMILLE M. COLLETT
                                              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) 616-4098
                                              E-mail: Camille.m.collett@usdoj.gov

Dated: September 3, 2020

                                             3