Court Opinion

ID: 4473213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-14 21:02:01.751089+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:01.092965
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

*************************
ELISEO RAEL,               *
                           *                          No. 16-1462V
               Petitioner, *                          Special Master Christian J. Moran
v.                         *
                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                          Filed: December 18, 2019
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
               Respondent. *
*************************

                   TENTATIVE RULING REGARDING DAMAGES

        The parties dispute three aspects of compensation: (1) compensation for past pain and
suffering, (2) whether Mr. Rael is entitled to any compensation for future pain and suffering, and
(3) compensation for lost earnings. The parties have filed briefs addressing the evidence on
these points.

       Vaccine Rule 5(a)(3) authorizes special masters to present tentative findings and
conclusions. The undersigned takes this approach here.

   1. Past Pain and Suffering

       After considering the materials in the record, the undersigned has tentatively found that
an appropriate amount of compensation for petitioner’s past pain and suffering is $85,000.

   2. Future Pain and Suffering

        On November 2, 2017, Dr. Buterbaugh stated that petitioner’s symptoms “will persist.”
Exhibit 7 at 2. Dr. Buterbaugh’s opinion supports an award of some amount of future pain and
suffering. But see Resp’t’s Br., filed Sep. 3, 2019, at 7 (stating, in part, “Dr. Buterbaugh did not
opine that petitioner’s left shoulder injury was . . . likely to extend into the future.”)

        Petitioner seems not to be receiving much, if any, medical treatment for his shoulder
pain. The lack of treatment suggests that the shoulder pain is mild. Therefore, the undersigned
tentatively finds that a reasonable amount of compensation for petitioner’s continued shoulder
problem is $100 per year for the remainder of his life.

       The parties have an additional opportunity to develop this aspect of compensation in two
respects. Petitioner shall file material on January 24, 2020. On that date, petitioner shall file
evidence showing petitioner’s life expectancy. In addition, petitioner shall file a statement or
evidence regarding discount rate. The undersigned has used a two percent discount rate as a
default. If petitioner accepts a two percent discount rate, then petitioner may file a status report
communicating this acceptance. If not, petitioner shall file evidence in the form of a report from
an expert who could testify at a hearing about the discount rate.

         Respondent shall file a response 30 days later. Respondent may agree with petitioner’s
evidence regarding life expectancy. If so, respondent shall file a status report. If not, respondent
shall file evidence. Likewise, respondent may agree with the discount rate as petitioner has
proposed or, if appropriate, the default rate of two percent. If respondent disagrees with the
proposed discount rate, respondent shall file evidence in the form of a report from an expert who
could testify at a hearing.

   3. Lost Earnings

        Petitioner has not demonstrated that he is entitled to any compensation for lost earnings.
Of the three tentative findings, this finding is the most certain.

        The parties may wish to use these tentative findings plus the parties’ agreement that
petitioner incurred $225.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses to resolve the case. If the parties
cannot resolve the case, then the parties should submit material as scheduled above.

       Accordingly, the following is ordered:

       1. Petitioner shall file information regarding (a) life expectancy, and (b) discount rate by
          Friday, January 24, 2020.

       2. Respondent shall file his response on those two topics 30 days later.

       Any questions regarding this order shall be directed to my law clerk, Haley Hawkins, at
(202) 357-6360.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                      s/Christian J. Moran
                                                      Christian J. Moran
                                                      Special Master

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