Court Opinion

ID: 4469858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-07 17:01:43.334368+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:58.940852
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-1078V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KATHYRN JOHNSON,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: December 5, 2019
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                              Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                        Respondent.

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On August 8, 2017, Kathyrn 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 she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as
a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on October 18, 2016. Petition
at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

        On October 25, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for GBS. On December 5, 2019, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $150,000.00,
for her actual and projected pain and suffering. Proffer at 1-2. 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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $150,000.00, (for her actual and projected 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
            Case 1:17-vv-01078-UNJ Document 52 Filed 12/05/19 Page 1 of 2

                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                           OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                    )
 KATHYRN JOHNSON,                                   )
                                                    )
                  Petitioner,                       )
                                                    )    No. 17-1078V
 v.                                                 )    Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                                    )    ECF
 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN                      )
 SERVICES,                                          )
                                                    )
                  Respondent.                       )
                                                    )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

          On August 8, 2017, Kathyrn Johnson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation

under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34

(“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Petitioner alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré

syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on October 18,

2016. Petition at 1. On October 25, 2018, the Secretary of Health and Human Services

(“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending that compensation be awarded, and the

Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation

the same day. ECF No. 32; ECF No. 33.

I.        Items of Compensation

          A.     Pain and Suffering

          Respondent proffers that Kathyrn Johnson, should be awarded $150,000.00 in actual and

projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award for projected pain and

suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner

agrees.
          Case 1:17-vv-01078-UNJ Document 52 Filed 12/05/19 Page 2 of 2

II.    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 Kathyrn Johnson 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 following1: $150,000.00 for actual and projected

pain and suffering, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Kathyrn Johnson.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       Lump sum payable to petitioner, Kathyrn Johnson:                              $ 150,000.00

                                              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

                                              HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                              Assistant Director
                                              Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                              s/ Sarah C. Duncan
                                              SARAH C. DUNCAN
                                              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) 514-9729
DATED: December 5, 2019                       Fax: (202) 616-4310
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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
                                                 2