Court Opinion

ID: 4707295
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-28 21:03:58.104602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:43.055577
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1040V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    GIOVANNI POLICICCHIO,                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: June 22, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                                Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                         Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 18, 2019, Giovanni Policicchio 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 he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 3, 2016. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On May 7, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation. On June 21, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation
(“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $216,958.59. Proffer at 1-2. 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.

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

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).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $216,958.59 (representing compensation in the amount of
$90,000.00 for pain and suffering and $126,958.59 for past lost wages) in the form
of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages
that would be available under § 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

GIOVANNI POLICICCHIO,                                )
                                                     )
                       Petitioner,                   )
                                                     )
       v.                                            ) No. 19-1040V
                                                     ) Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                       Respondent.                   )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On May 1, 2020, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner

suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome within the Table timeframe following an influenza

vaccination, which was compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on May 7, 2020, the Chief Special

Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

I.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and suffering

and $126,958.59 for past lost earnings. These amounts represent all elements of compensation to

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

II.    Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $216,958.59 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 This

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 pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

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

                                             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

                                             DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                             Assistant Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             s/ LARA A. ENGLUND
                                             LARA A. ENGLUND
                                             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) 307-3013
                                             E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: June 21, 2021

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