Court Opinion

ID: 3203028
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-12 16:02:06.571318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:05.142744
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 14-563V
                                     Filed: March 10, 2016

*************************
WILLIAM JAKE BROOKS and                    *
MONICA LYNN BROOKS, as the legal *
representatives of their minor son, C.B., *
                                           *
                     Petitioners,          *     Damages Decision;
                                           *     Rotavirus Vaccine; Intussusception;
v.                                         *     Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                           *
                                           *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *
                                           *
                     Respondent.           *
*************************
Curtis R. Webb, Twin Falls, ID, for petitioners.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On July 2, 2014, William Jake Brooks and Monica Lynn Brooks (“petitioners”)
filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”) on behalf of
their minor son, C.B. The petition alleges that as a result of a rotavirus vaccination on
July 8, 2011, C.B. suffered an intussusception, bowel resection, and sequela. Petition
at 1-3.

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
       On November 4, 2014, a ruling on entitlement was issued by former Chief
Special Master Vowell, finding petitioners entitled to compensation for C.B.’s
intussusception. Ruling on Entitlement, filed Nov. 4, 2014 (ECF No. 15).

       On January 21, 2016, petitioners filed a status report indicating that the parties
had reached an agreement pertaining to an award for petitioners’ past unreimbursed
expenses. Status Report, filed Jan. 21, 2016 (ECF No. 43). The status report indicated
that respondent did not object to an award of $9,500.00 for past unreimbursed
expenses, and petitioners agreed that an award of $9,500.00 for their past
unreimbursed expenses would be reasonable. Id.

       On February 26, 2016, the undersigned issued a Ruling on Pain and Suffering, at
the request of the parties, finding that $144,000.00 represents a fair and appropriate
amount of compensation for C.B.’s past pain and suffering. Ruling on Pain and
Suffering, filed Feb. 26, 2016, at 6. (ECF No. 44). The undersigned further found that
an award of $1000.00 per year over a seventy year life expectancy ($70,000.00) is a fair
and appropriate amount of compensation for C.B.’s future pain and suffering. Id. The
undersigned requested the parties file a joint status report converting the undersigned’s
award of future pain and suffering to the net present value and indicating whether any
other damages items remain outstanding or if this claim is ripe for a decision on
damages. Id. at 6-7.

       Petitioners filed a joint status report on behalf of the parties on March 4, 2016.
Joint Status Report, filed March 4, 2016 (ECF No. 45). The status report indicates that
the net present value of the undersigned’s award of future pain and suffering is
$38,248.00. Id. The status report further indicates that “[n]o other damages items
remain outstanding,” and that “[t]his matter is ripe for a decision on damages.” Id.

      Based on the record as a whole, and pursuant to the undersigned’s Ruling on
Pain and Suffering, the undersigned finds that petitioners are entitled to an award as
ordered below.3

    A. The undersigned awards a lump sum payment of $182,248.00 which
       represents compensation for actual pain and suffering ($144,000.00), and
       projected pain and suffering ($38,248.00), to petitioners as
       guardians/conservators of C.B.’s estate.

    B. The undersigned awards a lump sum payment of $9,500.00 for past
       unreimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable to petitioners.

    These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be
    available under § 300aa-15(a).

3
 An OSM staff attorney contacted the parties’ counsel, by email communication, on March 10, 2016 to
confirm that the parties agree the form of the award, as set forth above, is correct. The parties’ counsel
both agreed.

                                                     2
       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.

                                                      3