Court Opinion

ID: 4533569
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-12 16:02:17.621908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:33:53.311435
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1296V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    CRAIG JOHNSON,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: April 9, 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.

Kathleen Margaret Loucks, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN, for petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On August 27, 2018,Craig Johnson 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 Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that
was caused by an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on October 2, 2017.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

        On December 3, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for GBS. On April 8, 2020, 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

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 $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/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

*************************************
CRAIG JOHNSON,                      *
                                    *
                  Petitioner,       *                        No. 18-1296V
                                    *                        Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.                                  *
                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             *
HUMAN SERVICES,                     *
                                    *
                  Respondent.       *
*************************************

              RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

         On November 27, 2019, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner’s

claim meets the Table criteria for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) injury. On December 3,

2019, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation under

the Vaccine Act.

I.       Items of Compensation

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

the following, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment

award:

         A lump sum payment of $165,000.00, which represents compensation for
         all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C.
         § 300aa-15(a).1

Petitioner agrees.

1
  Should petitioner die prior to the 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.
II.    Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that petitioner be awarded a lump sum payment of $165,000.00, in the

form of a check payable to petitioner. 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/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     Senior 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) 616-4181
Dated: April 8, 2020

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