Court Opinion

ID: 4546280
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-06 16:02:06.108862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:03.613792
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-266V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    EARL J. SMITH,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: June 2, 2020
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                              Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                        Respondent.

Scott B. Taylor, Urban & Taylor, S.C., Milwaukee, WI, for petitioner.

Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On February 19, 2019, Earl J. 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”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome
(“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on June 15, 2009.
Petition at 1 3. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

     On May 19, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On May 27, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $197,500.00 for past

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
3
  Petitioner is not time-barred from alleging a Table injury of GBS because the petition was filed within the
look-back provision. See § 16(b).
and future pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. 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.

     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $197,500.00 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. 4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                          Brian H. Corcoran
                                          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
                  IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

EARL J. SMITH,

                        Petitioner,

            v.                                           No. 19-266V
                                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.

                 RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On February 19, 2019, Earl J. Smith (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury

compensation alleging that he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”), a Table injury, as a

result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on June 15, 2009. 1 Respondent filed his

Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement to compensation on May 19, 2020, and the Court issued a

Ruling on Entitlement that same day.

       I.         Items of Compensation

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

a total of $197,500.00 for his past and future pain and suffering. This represents all elements of

compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 2 Petitioner

1
   Petitioner is not time-barred from alleging a Table injury of GBS under 42 U.S.C
§ 300aa–16(a)(2), because his petition was filed not later than two years after the effective date of
the Table revision adding GBS as a Table injury following flu vaccine (March 21, 2017), and the
alleged injury occurred not more than eight years prior to the effective date of the Table revision.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–16(b).
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 damages.
                                                  1
agrees.

          II.    Form of the Award

          The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made

through a lump sum payment of $197,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 3

Petitioner agrees.

                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                               JOSEPH H. HUNT
                                               Assistant Attorney General

                                               C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                                               Acting Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                               Deputy Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                               Assistant Director
                                               Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                               s/Lisa A. Watts
                                               LISA A. WATTS
                                               Senior 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) 616-4099

DATED: May 27, 2020

3
    Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
                                                 2