Court Opinion

ID: 4453174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-05 21:01:49.858948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:10.073785
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-984V
                                      Filed: August 6, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MARY LEPPER,

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

Michael G. McLaren, Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., Memphis, TN, for
petitioner.
Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On July 10, 2018, petitioner 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 Guillain-Barre syndrome (“GBS”) as a result
of an influenza vaccine and/or pneumococcal PCV-13 vaccine administered on October
26, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

       On June 17, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled
to compensation for GBS. On July 30, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $165,000.00. Proffer
at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered
1 The undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
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, the
undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access. Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the
action in this case, undersigned is 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).

2   National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is
entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $165,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Mary Lepper. 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/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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
____________________________________
                                     )
MARY LEPPER,                         )  No. 18-984V
                                     )  Chief Special Master Dorsey
            Petitioner,             )   ECF
                                    )
      v.                            )
                                    )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
                                     )

                       PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.    Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

      On June 13, 2019, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner

suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, on June 17, 2019, the Chief Special

Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.

      Respondent now proffers that, based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be

awarded $165,000.00. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner

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

II.    Items of Compensation and Form of the Award

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

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

decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1

1
  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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
   A. Petitioner’s Damages

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

Lepper.

   B. Guardianship

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

                                             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/ Daniel A. Principato
                                             DANIEL A. PRINCIPATO
                                             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) 616-3662
                                             Fax: (202) 353-2988

Dated: July 30, 2019

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