Court Opinion

ID: 4642804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-14 22:04:24.740653+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:00:35.646892
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 19-1744V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    GARY J. HUDECK,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                            Filed: November 10, 2020
    v.
                                                                Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
                                                                Barre Syndrome (GBS)
                         Respondent.

Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                 DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

       On November 12, 2019, Gary J. Hudeck 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 he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on March 21, 2017. Petition at 1. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On August 28, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for GBS. On November 9, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $225,000.00 in actual
pain and suffering and funds to satisfy a State of Michigan Medicaid lien in the amount of
$129,797.15. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

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   Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
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 the following
compensation:

            1) A lump sum payment of $225,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
               petitioner; and

            2) A lump sum payment of $129,797.15, representing compensation for
               satisfaction of the State of Michigan Medicaid lien, payable jointly to
               petitioner and to:
                                        OPTUMINSIGHT, INC.
                                          L-182643 GW2W10
                                        5555 Cleveland Avenue
                                         Columbus, OH 43231

                Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to OPTUMINSIGHT, INC. for
                satisfaction of the Medicaid lien. 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
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

 GARY J. HUDECK,

                Petitioner,                            No. 19-1744V
                                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
 v.                                                    ECF

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                Respondent.

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On November 12, 2019, Gary J. Hudeck (“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”), alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barre syndrome (“GBS”) as a result

of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on March 21, 2017. Petition (“Pet.”) at 1.

On August 24, 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,

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

compensation on August 28, 2020. ECF No. 30; ECF No. 31.

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Pain and Suffering

       Respondent proffers that Gary J. Hudeck should be awarded $225,000.00 in actual pain

and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
       B.      Medicaid Lien

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

Michigan Medicaid lien in the amount of $129,797.15, which represents full satisfaction of any

right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the State of Michigan may have

against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the State of Michigan has made to or

on behalf of petitioner from the date of his eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in

this case as a result of her alleged vaccine-related injury suffered on or about March 21, 2017,

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

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

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

lump sum payments as described below:

       1)      A lump sum payment of $225,000.00 in the form of a check payable to

       petitioner. 1

       2)      A lump sum payment of $129,797.15, representing compensation for satisfaction
               of the State of Michigan Medicaid lien, payable jointly to petitioner and to:

                                     OPTUMINSIGHT, INC.
                                      L-182643 GW2W10
                                     5555 Cleveland Avenue
                                      Columbus, OH 43231

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
       Petitioner agrees to endorse this payment to OPTUMINSIGHT, INC. for satisfaction of

the Medicaid lien.

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

                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                    JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK
                                                    Acting Assistant Attorney General

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

                                                    CATHARINE E. REEVES
                                                    Deputy Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                    Assistant Director
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                    /s/ Alexa Roggenkamp
                                                    ALEXA ROGGENKAMP
                                                    Trial Attorney
                                                    Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                    U.S. Department of Justice
                                                    P.O. Box 146
                                                    Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                    Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                    (202) 616-4179
                                                    alexa.roggenkamp@usdoj.gov

DATED: November 9, 2020

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