Court Opinion

ID: 4282404
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-07 20:01:54.113553+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:50.604313
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-682V
                                     Filed: March 27, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    TANITHA JACKSON,
    as the legal representative of her minor                 Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    son, D. E.,                                              Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                       Petitioner,                           Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine;
    v.                                                       Varicella Vaccine; Cellulitis; Abscess

    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Curtis R. Webb, Twin Falls, ID, for petitioner.
Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 23, 2017, petitioner 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 that D.E. developed an abscess requiring surgery as a
result of his measles, mumps and rubella (“MMR”) vaccine, pneumococcal 13-valent
conjugate (“PCV 13”) vaccine, hepatitis A (“Hep A”) vaccine, influenza (“flu”) vaccine,
and varicella vaccine administered on October 13, 2016. Petition at 1-3. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On October 12, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for right leg cellulitis and abscess. On March 26, 2018,
respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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).
should be awarded should be awarded $39,405.26, consisting of pain and suffering in
the amount of $35,000.00 and funds to satisfy a State of Georgia Medicaid lien in the
final amount of $4,405.26. Proffer at 1-2.

       In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered
award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled
to an award as stated in the Proffer.

       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
the following compensation:

   A. A lump sum payment of $35,000.00 representing compensation for D.E.’s pain
      and suffering in the form of a check payable to petitioner as guardian/conservator
      of the estate of D.E. for the benefit of D.E. No payment shall be made until
      petitioner provides the Secretary with documentation establishing her
      appointment as guardian/conservator of D.E.’s estate. If petitioner is not
      authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian/conservator
      3 of the estate of D.E. at the time a payment pursuant to this Proffer is to be
      made, any such payment shall be paid to the party or parties appointed by a
      court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the
      estate of D.E. upon submission of written documentation of such appointment to
      the Secretary.

   B. A lump sum payment of $4,405.26, representing compensation for satisfaction of
      a State of Georgia Medicaid lien on D.E.’s behalf, payable jointly to petitioner and

                               The Rawlings Company
                                Subrogation Division
                                Attn: Ericka Boarman
                                   P.O. Box 2000
                              LaGrange, KY 40031-2000
                              Reference No.: 85014613

      Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to The Rawlings Company.

      This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under § 300aa-15(a).

                                            2
       The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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.

                                                      3
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
_________________________________________
TANITHA JACKSON, as the Legal               )
Representative of her Minor Son, D.E.,      )
                                            ) ECF
                             Petitioner,    )
                                            )
              v.                            ) No. 17-682V
                                            ) Chief Special Master
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN               ) Nora Beth Dorsey
SERVICES,                                   )
                                            )
                             Respondent.    )
                                            )

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On May 23, 2017, Tanitha Jackson (“petitioner”), filed a petition for compensation under

the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (“Vaccine

Act” or “Act”), as amended, on behalf of her minor son, D.E. Petitioner alleges that D.E.

developed injuries including: cellulitis and a sterile abscess in his right thigh necessitating

surgical intervention, which were caused-in-fact by measles, mumps and rubella (“MMR”)

vaccine, pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (“PCV 13”) vaccine, hepatitis A (“Hep A”) vaccine,

influenza (“flu”) vaccine, and varicella vaccine administered on October 13, 2016. See Petition

(“Pet.”) at ¶¶ 1-22.

       On October 12, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report conceding entitlement in this

matter, and the Chief Special Master’s Ruling on Entitlement was issued the same day.

Respondent now files this Proffer regarding compensation to be awarded to petitioner, on D.E.’s

behalf, under the terms of the Vaccine Act.

                                                  1
       I.      Items of Compensation

       Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner, on D.E.’s behalf,

should be awarded $39,405.26, consisting of pain and suffering in the amount of $35,000.00 and

funds to satisfy a State of Georgia Medicaid lien in the final amount of $4,405.26, which

represents full satisfaction of any right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action

that the State of Georgia may have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments

the State of Georgia has made on behalf of D.E. from the date of his eligibility for benefits

through the date of judgment in this case as a result of his vaccine-related injury under Title XIX

of the Social Security Act.

       The proffered amount of $39,405.26 represents all elements of compensation to which

petitioner would be entitled on D.E.’s behalf under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 1 Petitioner agrees.

       II.     Form of the Award

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

through a combination of lump sum payments as described below, and request that the Chief

Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:

       A. A lump sum payment of $35,000.00 representing compensation for D.E.’s pain and

suffering in the form of a check payable to petitioner as guardian/conservator of the estate of

D.E. for the benefit of D.E. No payment shall be made until petitioner provides the Secretary

with documentation establishing her appointment as guardian/conservator of D.E.’s estate. If

petitioner is not authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian/conservator

1
  Should D.E. 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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

                                                  2
of the estate of D.E. at the time a payment pursuant to this Proffer is to be made, any such

payment shall be paid to the party or parties appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to

serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of D.E. upon submission of written

documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.

       B. A lump sum payment of $4,405.26, representing compensation for satisfaction of a

State of Georgia Medicaid lien on D.E.’s behalf, payable jointly to petitioner and

                                        The Rawlings Company
                                         Subrogation Division
                                         Attn: Ericka Boarman
                                             P.O. Box 2000
                                       LaGrange, KY 40031-2000
                                        Reference No.: 85014613

Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to The Rawlings Company.

       III.    Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.      Lump Sum paid to petitioner :                                         $35,000.00

       B.      Medicaid lien:                                                        $ 4,405.26

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     CHAD A. READLER
                                                     Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                     CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                     Deputy Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                 3
                            GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
                            Assistant Director
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division

                            s/Lisa A. Watts
                            LISA A. WATTS
                            Senior 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) 616-4099

DATED: March 26, 2018

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