Court Opinion

ID: 4348283
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-07 13:01:50.518302+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:58.468301
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-1459V
                                    Filed: October 10, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    NANCY CALHOUN,
                                                             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.

Simina Vourlis, Law Offices of Simina Vourlis, Columbus, OH, for petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On November 4, 2016, Tommy Calhoun filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the
“Vaccine Act”) on behalf of his mother, Nancy Calhoun, who had granted him limited
power of attorney for her affairs.3 The petition alleges that Nancy Calhoun suffered
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of her influenza vaccination on September
18, 2014. Petition at 1,5. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).

3On May 11, 2018, the court granted petitioner’s motion to amend the caption to reflect Nancy Calhoun
as the sole petitioner because her mental and physical capacity had improved and Mr. Calhoun no longer
met the criteria as a person who could file a vaccine petition under §11(b)(1)(A). Order, issued May 11,
2018 (ECF No. 46).
        On August 21, 2018, respondent filed an Amended Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer
on Damages.4 On August 22, 2018, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding
petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On August 21, 2018, respondent filed a
proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$146,667.00, representing pain and suffering ($135,000.00), past unreimbursable out of
pocket expenses ($6,167.00), and future unreimbursable out of pocket expenses
($5,500.00). Proffer at 8. 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 August 21, 2018 Amended Rule 4(c) Report
and Proffer (ECF No. 62), the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment
of $146,667.00 (representing $135,000.00 for pain and suffering, $6,167.00 for past
unreimbursable out of pocket expenses, and $5,500.00 for future unreimbursable
out of pocket expenses) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Nancy
Calhoun. 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.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Chief Special Master

4 Previously, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on Damages on May 15, 2018. The
undersigned issued a ruling on entitlement and decision awarding damages on May 16, 2018, and
judgment was entered on May 21, 2018. On July 19, 2018, the parties moved jointly for relief from
judgment pursuant to RCFC 60(b) due to an error in the sub-amounts listed in the Proffer. On August 16,
2018, the court granted the Rule 60(b) motion, vacated judgment, and withdrew the May 16, 2018
entitlement and damages decisions. Order, issued Aug. 16, 2018 (ECF No. 61). On August 21, 2018
respondent filed an Amended Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer (ECF No. 62). On August 22, 2018, the court
issued a ruling on entitlement (ECF No. 63) and decision awarding damages (ECF No. 64), and judgment
was entered on August 23, 2018 (ECF No. 66). On October 4, 2018, the parties filed a Second Joint
Motion for Relief from Judgment (ECF No. 69). That motion was granted on October 10, 2018 and the
August 22, 2018 damages decision was withdrawn and the August 23, 2018 judgment was vacated. The
court now reissues a decision awarding damages listing a corrected award of damages.

5 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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