Court Opinion

ID: 4704552
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-19 13:03:05.63938+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:27.598954
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1780V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    GEORGE POTAK,                                               Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: June 16, 2021
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                                Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                         Respondent.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On December 7, 2020, George Potak 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 Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on December 18, 2018. Petition
at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

       On April 26, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On June 15, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and
suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with

1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $90,000.00 for pain and suffering 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/Brian H. Corcoran
                                         Brian H. Corcoran
                                         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

 GEORGE POTAK,

                Petitioner,

 v.                                                   No. 20-1780V
                                                      Chief Special Master Corcoran
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                              ECF
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Procedural History

       On December 7, 2020 George Potak (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to

-34, as amended. He alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on December

18, 2018, he suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). See Petition. On April 26, 2021,

respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as

defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe. ECF No. 13. On April 26,

2021, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was

entitled to compensation for a GBS Table injury. ECF No. 14.

II.    Items of Compensation

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and

suffering. This represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III.   Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through

a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision

and the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $90,000.00, in the

form of a check payable to petitioner.

IV.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, George Potak: $90,000.00

                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                    BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                                    Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                    HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                                    Acting Deputy Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    DARRYL R. WISHARD
                                                    Assistant Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    s/ Tyler C. King
                                                    TYLER C. KING
                                                    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) 305-0730
                                                    Tyler.King@usdoj.gov
Dated: June 15, 2021

1Should 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 pain
and suffering.