Court Opinion

ID: 5128667
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-23 14:02:26.673999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:07.811809
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1175V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    LORI GRADY,                                                 Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: October 13, 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.

Terrence Kevin Mangan, Jr., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On September 10, 2020, Lori Grady 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 the Table Injury of Guillain-Barre
Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of her October 27, 2018 influneza (“flu”) vaccination.
Petition at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

     On June 16, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On October 13, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $120,392.33 for all
damages, including $120,000.00 representative of pain and suffering, and $392.33

1  Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
representative of out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the
Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2.
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 $120,392.33 (including $120,000.00 representative of pain and
suffering, and $392.33 representative of unreimbursed expenses) in the form of a
check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents 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

LORI GRADY,

                Petitioner,                            No. 20-1175V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
 v.                                                    ECF

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1

I.     Procedural History

       On September 10, 2020, Lori Grady (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -

34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on

October 27, 2018, she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”). See Petition. On June

15, 2021, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that petitioner suffered GBS

after a flu vaccine as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. ECF No. 24. On June 16, 2021, the

Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to

compensation for GBS. ECF No. 26.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

a lump sum of $120,392.33 for all damages, including $120,000.00 representative of pain and

       1
         This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.
suffering, and $392.33 representative of out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. This

amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III.   Form of the Award

       Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment, as described below, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s

decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: A lump sum payment of $120,392.33 in

the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees.

                                              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

       2
          Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.

                                                 2
                            /s Terrence K. Mangan, Jr.
                            TERRENCE K. MANGAN, JR.
                            Trial Attorney
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division
                            U.S. Department of Justice
                            P.O. Box 146
                            Benjamin Franklin Station
                            Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                            Phone: (202) 532-5875
                            Email: terrence.mangan@usdoj.gov

E-FILED: October 13, 2021

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