Court Opinion

ID: 4702342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-09 13:03:33.367724+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:24.136754
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0258V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    DIVYA PODURI, Natural Parent and                            Chief Special Master Corcoran
    Guardian of Y.T., a Minor,
                                                                Filed: June 8, 2021
                         Petitioner,
    v.                                                          Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                                Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Rotavirus Vaccine; Intussusception
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On March 6, 2020, Divya Poduri, natural parent and guardian of Y.T., a minor, 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 Y.T. suffered
an intussusception resulting from the rotavirus vaccination received on November 21,
2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

       On August 11, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for intussusception. On June 6, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $3,015.00 for
past unreimbursable expenses and an amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
described in section I(B) of the Proffer. Proffer at 2-3. 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.

      Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner the
following:

    A. A lump sum payment of $3,015.00 for past unreimbursable expenses, in the
       form of a check payable to Petitioner, Divya Poduri; and

    B. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described in section
       I(B) of the Proffer.

      These amounts represent 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.

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

 Y.T., a minor, by and through his parent and
 natural guardian DIVYA PODURI,
                                                      No. 20-258V (ECF)
                Petitioner,                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

 v.

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

            RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On March 6, 2020, Divya Poduri (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation on

behalf of her minor son, Y.T., under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42

U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. The petition alleges that Y.T.

suffered intussusception as a result of a rotavirus vaccine administered on November 21, 2017,

when he was 4 months old. Petition at 1, 5. On August 7, 2020, the Secretary of Health and

Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate

for compensation under the terms of the Act for an intussusception Table injury, and, on August

11, 2020, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to

compensation. ECF No. 18; ECF No. 19.

I.     Items of Compensation and Form of the Award

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers, and the parties recommend, that

compensation be made through a lump sum and future annuity payments as described below, and

request that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:
          A.       Past Unreimbursable Expenses

          Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

expenses related to her minor son’s vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner

should be awarded a lump sum in the amount of $3,015.00 for past unreimbursable expenses.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

          B.       Pain and Suffering

          For pain and suffering, see 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a)(4), respondent proffers an amount

sufficient to purchase an annuity contract, 1 paid to the life insurance company 2 from which the

annuity will be purchased, 3 subject to the conditions described below. The annuity contract will

be owned solely and exclusively by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will

provide payments to Y.T. 4 as set forth below:

               •   A certain lump sum of $191,055.54, payable on July 14, 2038. Should Y.T.

                   predecease the lump sum payment set forth above, said payment shall be made to

                   his estate. Written notice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to

1
  At respondent’s discretion, respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one or more
life insurance companies.
2
  The life insurance company must have a minimum of $250,000,000 capital and surplus, exclusive of any
mandatory security valuation reserve. The life insurance company must have one of the following ratings
from two of the following rating organizations:
         a. A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;
         b. Moody's Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa;
         c. Standard and Poor's Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or
         AAA; or
         d. Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA,
         AA+, or AAA.
3
 Petitioner authorizes the disclosure of certain documents filed by the petitioner in this case consistent
with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program System of Records, No. 09-15-0056.
4
    At the time payment is received, Y.T. will be an adult, and thus guardianship is not required.
                                                       2
              the life insurance company shall be provided within twenty (20) days of Y.T.’s

              death.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled

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

II.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A. Lump sum for past unreimburseable expenses, payable to petitioner, Divya Poduri:

          $3,015.00

       B. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described above in section I(B).

                                            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

                                            ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                            Assistant Director
                                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                            Sarah B. Rifkin
                                            SARAH B. RIFKIN
                                            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) 305-5997
                                            Email: sarah.rifkin@usdoj.gov

DATED: June 6, 2021

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