Court Opinion

ID: 4307206
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-24 16:01:48.276378+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:44.226091
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                   Filed: July 16, 2018

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LYNETTE PESTEL,            *
                           *                          No. 17-814V
         Petitioner,       *                          Special Master Sanders
                           *
 v.                        *                          Decision on Proffer; Damages;
                           *                          Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                          Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *
                           *
         Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shealene Wasserman, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
.
                          DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On June 16, 2017, Lynette Pestel (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq.2 (2012) (“Vaccine
Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”)
as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on September 26, 2014. Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1.

        On February 15, 2018, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he concluded that
“[P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the newly revised Vaccine Injury Table and the
Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for GBS following a flu vaccination.” ECF No. 16.
Accordingly, Respondent concluded that Petitioner is entitled to an award of damages “limited to
[P]etitioner’s GBS and its related sequelae only.” Id. On February 21, 2018, the undersigned
issued a Ruling on Entitlement consistent with Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report. ECF No. 17.

1
  This decision shall be posted 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), a party has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other information that
satisfies the criteria in § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion
for redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees
that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, such material will be
deleted from public access.
2
    National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.

                                                  1
       On July 16, 2018, Respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Proffer”). ECF
No. 23. 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 Proffer, attached as Appendix A, the undersigned awards
Petitioner a lump sum payment of $122,876.92, representing compensation for past and
future pain and suffering ($120,000.00), past unreimbursed out-of-pocket medical expenses
($2,000.00), and past unreimbursed wage loss ($876.92), in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT herewith.3

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                             Herbrina D. Sanders
                                             Special Master

3
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of a
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                2
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                         OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

*************************************
LYNETTE PESTEL,                     *
                                    *
                  Petitioner,       *                         No. 17-814V
                                    *                         SPECIAL MASTER SANDERS
v.                                  *
                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND             *
HUMAN SERVICES,                     *
                                    *
                  Respondent.       *
*************************************

             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       The Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement on February 21, 2018. Based upon the

evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded the following amounts:

       A.      $120,000.00, which represents compensation for past and future pain and
               suffering;

       B.      $2,000.00, which represents compensation for past unreimbursed out-of-pocket
               medical expenses; and

       C.      $876.92, which represents compensation for past unreimbursed wage loss.

       These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees.

1
       Should petitioner die prior to the 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.
II.    Form of the Award

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

Respondent recommends that petitioner be awarded a lump sum payment of $122,876.92 in the

form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

                                                     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

                                                     ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                                                     Assistant Director
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                     /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY
                                                     Trial Attorney
                                                     Torts Branch, Civil Division
                                                     U.S. Department of Justice
                                                     P.O. Box 146
                                                     Benjamin Franklin Station
                                                     Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                                                     Phone: (202) 616-4181
Dated: July 16, 2018

                                                2