Court Opinion

ID: 4693077
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-04 20:03:49.122154+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:20.479055
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-0912V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    CONSTANCE NICHOLS,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: May 4, 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.

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

       On July 28, 2020, Constance Nichols 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”)
casually related to the influenza vaccine she received on September 8, 2018. Petition at
¶¶ 1, 26. Additionally, Petitioner alleges that her GBS meets the Table definition. Id. at ¶
29. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

       On January 15, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her GBS. On May 4, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $200,383.10
(representing compensation in the amounts of $195,000.00 for pain and suffering and

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
$5,383.10 for past unreimbursable expenses) and $19,621.43 to satisfy the State of New
York Medicaid lien. 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.

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

    1. A lump sum payment of $200,383.10, representing compensation in the
       amounts of $195,000.00 for pain and suffering and $5,383.10 for actual
       unreimbursable expenses in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

    2. A lump sum payment of $19,621.43, representing compensation for
       satisfaction of the State of New York Medicaid lien, payable jointly to
       Petitioner and New York State Department of Health, and mailed to:

                              New York State Department of Health
                                       P.O. Box 415874
                                   Boston, MA 02241-5874

Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to New York for satisfaction of the Medicaid lien.

       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
____________________________________
                                    )
CONSTANCE NICHOLS,                  )
            Petitioner,             )
                                    )   No. 20-912V
      v.                            )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                    )   ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             )
HUMAN SERVICES,                     )
                                    )
            Respondent.             )
____________________________________)

                      PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

      On January 14, 2021, 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, that is, Guillain-Barre Syndrome

(“GBS”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. ECF No. 17. Accordingly, on January 15,

2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement. ECF No. 18.

I.    Items of Compensation

       A. Pain and Suffering

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

a lump sum of $195,000.00 for pain and suffering. Petitioner agrees.

       B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

       Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable

 expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be

 awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $5,383.10. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-

 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.
       C. Medicaid Lien

       Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded funds to satisfy the State of New

York Medicaid lien in the amount of $19,621.43, which represents full satisfaction of any right

of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the State of New York may have

against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the State of New York has made to

or on behalf of petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of

judgment in this case as a result of her alleged vaccine-related injury suffered on or about

September 23, 2018, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

       The above amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

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

II.    Form of the Award

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

two lump sum payments described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision

on damages and the Court’s judgment award the following:       1

       A. A lump sum payment of $200,383.10 in the form of a check payable to petitioner;
          and

       B. A lump sum payment of $19,621.43, representing compensation for satisfaction of
          the State of New York Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to
          petitioner and:

                               New York State Department of Health
                                        P.O. Box 415874
                                    Boston, MA 02241-5874

       Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to New York for satisfaction of the Medicaid lien.

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.
                                                  2
      Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

                                            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/ Kimberly S. Davey
                                            Kimberly S. Davey
                                            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) 307-1815
                                            Fax: (202) 616-4310
                                            Kimberly.davey@usdoj.gov
Date: May 4, 2021

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