Court Opinion

ID: 4238351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-23 13:04:05.05117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:36.527384
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-1419V
                                      Filed: July 17, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    CORINNA BAYE,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    v.                                                       Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                             Barre Syndrome (GBS)
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Elizabeth Martin Muldowney, Sands Anderson PC, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Amy Paula Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On October 27, 2016, 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 she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine she received on November 18, 2014. Petition at
1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

        On July 14, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to
compensation for her injury. On July 17, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded compensation in the
amount of $170,000.00. Proffer at 1. 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.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

2National 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, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $170,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Corinna Baye. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

       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.

                                                      2
                  IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

                                                )
CORINNA BAYE,                                   )
                                                )
                 Petitioner,                    )
                                                )       No. 16-1419V (ECF)
          v.                                    )       Chief Special Master Dorsey
                                                )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                         )
HUMAN SERVICES,                                 )
                                                )
                 Respondent.                    )
                                                )

               RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.        Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

          On July 14, 2017, Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding

that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).

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

$170,000.00. This amount represents 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

          Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner be made through a

lump sum payment of $170,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1 Petitioner

agrees.

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

1
       Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, respondent reserves 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.
                                                    1
                             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

                             HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                             Assistant Director
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                             s/Amy P. Kokot
                             AMY P. KOKOT
                             Trial Attorney
                             Torts Branch, Civil Division
                             U.S. Department of Justice
                             P.O. Box 146
                             Ben Franklin Station
                             Washington, DC 20044-0146
                             Tel: (202) 616-4118

Dated:   July 17, 2017

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