Court Opinion

ID: 6501170
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 17:01:45.374963+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:41:01.257219
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 16-808V
                                        Filed: June 22, 2022
                                           UNPUBLISHED

    DOLORES SOLTERO ARIAS,                                      Special Master Horner

                          Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                                Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Barre Syndrome (“GBS”)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

Douglas Burdette, Burdette Law, Sahuarita, AZ, for petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

      On July 7, 2016, Dolores Soltero Arias 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 “an acute inflammatory demyelinating
neuropathy believed to be Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“AIDP/GBS”).” (ECF No. 1.)

       On October 20, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for GBS. On June 22, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $165,000.00. (ECF No.
77.) 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1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
     Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $165,000.00 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. 3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                         s/Daniel T. Horner
                                                         Daniel T. Horner
                                                         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

DOLORES SOLTERO ARIAS,                               )
                                                     )
                       Petitioner,                   )
                                                     )
       v.                                            )   No. 16-808V
                                                     )   Special Master Horner
SECRETARY OF                                         )
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                                     )
                       Respondent.                   )
                                                     )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

       On July 7, 2016, Dolores Soltero Arias (“petitioner”) filed a petition under the National

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended (“Vaccine Act”

or “Act”), alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that was allegedly

caused-in-fact by an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on November 16, 2015. See

Petition at Introduction. On February 17, 2017, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report,

contesting that entitlement to compensation was appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act.

ECF Document (“Doc.”) No. 24. On June 24, 2020, the Special Master advised the parties that

he intended to resolve this case “based on the written record pursuant to Vaccine Rule 8(d),” and

directed the parties to file simultaneous briefs supporting their respective positions. Doc. 57.

Following review of the parties’ September 18, 2020 submissions, on October 20, 2020, the

Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine

compensation. Doc. 64.
          Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded

$165,000.00.1 This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would

be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 2 Petitioner agrees.

II.       Form of the Award

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

a lump sum payment of $165,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner

agrees.

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

                                                       Respectfully submitted,

                                                       BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                       Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                       HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                       Deputy Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                       LARA A. ENGLUND
                                                       Assistant Director
                                                       Torts Branch, Civil Division

1
 The parties have no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages. However,
respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Special
Master’s October 20, 2020 entitlement decision.
2Should 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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                       s/ Mallori B. Openchowski
                       MALLORI B. OPENCHOWSKI
                       Trial Attorney
                       Torts Branch, Civil Division
                       U.S. Department of Justice
                       P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                       Washington, DC 20044-0146
                       Tel.: (202) 305-0660
                       mallori.b.openchowski@usdoj.gov

DATED: June 22, 2022