Court Opinion

ID: 4239683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-26 17:04:17.59211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:16:29.383687
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-0844V
                                      Filed: July 28, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    SHARON SMITH, as Administrator of
    the ESTATE OF PAUL SMITH,                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    deceased,                                                Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                        Petitioner,                          Barre Syndrome (GBS)
    v.

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On July 18, 2016, Paul Smith filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine
Act”).3 Petitioner alleges that Paul Smith suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on August 19, 2015. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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).
3
 Paul Smith died after the petition was filed, and Sharon Smith was substituted as the petitioner. Sharon
Smith is hereafter referred to as petitioner, and has filed documentation establishing that she is the legal
representative of Mr. Smith’s estate.
      On July 28, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation. On July 28, 2017, respondent filed his report pursuant to Vaccine Rule
4(c) which included a proffer on award of compensation indicating petitioner should be
awarded $79,123.74. Respondent’s Report at 4. In the Rule 4 report, respondent
represents that petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Based on the record as a
whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in
Respondent’s Report.

      Pursuant to the terms set forth in Respondent’s Report, the undersigned
awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $79,123.74, in the form of a check
payable to petitioner. This 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.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

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