Court Opinion

ID: 8209180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-26 21:02:21.701118+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:38.588705
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 20-1826V
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    KATHY EMRICH and JEREMY                                     Chief Special Master Corcoran
    EMRICH, on behalf of K.E.,
    a minor child,
                                                                Filed: August 24, 2022
                         Petitioners,
    v.                                                          Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                                                Damages Decision based on Proffer;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                     Meningococcal Vaccine; Vasovagal
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                             Syncope.

                         Respondent.

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioners.

Benjamin P. Warder, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                       DECISION ON DAMAGES1

       On December 11, 2020, Petitioners filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioners allege that their minor child K.E. suffered vasovagal syncope
as a result of her receipt of a meningococcal vaccination on June 9, 2020. Petition at 1.
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1  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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), Petitioners have 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).
       On July 28, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding that Petitioners on
behalf of K.E. were entitled to compensation for K.E.’s episode of vasovagal syncope. On
August 24, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation. Proffer at 1-2. In
the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioners agrees with the proffered award. Id.
Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioners are entitled to an award as stated
in the Proffer.

        Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award:

        A. A lump sum payment of $12,238.60, representing compensation for
           satisfaction of the State of South Carolina Medicaid lien, in the form of a
           check payable jointly to Petitioners and:

                                                  Equian
                                           ATTN: Nicole Gulley
                                             P.O. Box 182643
                                           Columbus, OH 43218
                                      Equian Event Number: 68721966

            Petitioners agree to endorse the check to Equian for satisfaction of the
            Medicaid lien.

        B. A lump sum payment of $9,000.00 (representing future medical expenses
           and partial pain and suffering) in the form of a check payable to
           Petitioners; and

        C. An amount of $96,000.00 to purchase the annuity (representing all
           remaining pain and suffering) described in the Proffer at Section II.B.

These amounts represent compensation for all damages that would be available under
Section 15(a).

       The Clerk of 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
__________________________________________
                                           )
KATHY EMRICH and JEREMY                    )
EMRICH, on behalf of K.E.,                 )
a minor child,                             )
                                           )
       Petitioners,                        )
                                           )   No. 20-1826V (ECF)
v.                                         )   Chief Special Master Corcoran
                                           )
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        )
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        )
                                           )
       Respondent.                         )
__________________________________________)

                           RESPONDENT’S PROFFER OF DAMAGES

I.        Procedural History

            On July 23, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that

    petitioners’ child, K.E., suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood

    Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, that is, an episode of

    vasovagal syncope, as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. ECF No. 17. Accordingly, on July

    28, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement. ECF No. 18.

II.       Items of Compensation and Form of the Award

           Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers, and the parties recommend,

    that compensation be made through lump sum and future annuity payments as described below

    and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the

    following: 1

1 Should K.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.

                                                  1
       A.      Medicaid Lien

       Respondent proffers that petitioners should be awarded funds to satisfy the State of South

Carolina Medicaid lien in the amount of $12,238.60, which represents full satisfaction of any

right of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the State of South Carolina may

have against any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the State of South Carolina has

made to or on behalf of K.E. from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of

judgment in this case as a result of K.E.’s alleged vaccine-related injury suffered on or about

June 9, 2020, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

       B.      Pain and Suffering and Future Medical Expenses

       For future medical expenses and partial pain and suffering, respondent proffers that

petitioners should be awarded a lump sum payment of $9,000.00. Petitioners agree.

       For all remaining pain and suffering, an amount not to exceed the sum of $96,000.00 to

purchase an annuity contract,2 paid to the life insurance company 3 from which the annuity will

2 In respondent’s discretion, respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one
or more life insurance companies.

3 The Life Insurance Company must have a minimum of $250,000,000 capital and surplus,
exclusive of any mandatory security valuation reserve. The Life Insurance Company must have
one of the following ratings from two of the following rating organizations:

               a. A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;

               b. Moody's Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa;

               c. Standard and Poor's Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-,
               AA, AA+, or AAA;

               d. Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability
               Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA.

                                                 2
be purchased,4 subject to the conditions described below. The annuity contract will be owned

solely and exclusively by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will provide

payments to K.E. as set forth below:

       Beginning on the first anniversary of the date of judgment, $24,000.00 per year for
       four (4) years certain. Then, on the anniversary of the date of judgment in year
       2027, a certain lump sum of $5,249.42.

The purchase price of the annuity described in this section II.B. shall neither be greater

nor less than $96,000.00. In the event that the cost of the certain annuity payments set forth

above varies from $96,000.00, the certain lump sum due on the anniversary of the date of

judgment in year 2027, listed above, shall be adjusted to ensure that the total cost of the annuity

is neither less than nor greater than $96,000.00. Should K.E. predecease any of the certain

annuity payments set forth above, said payments shall be made to her estate. Written notice to

the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the Life Insurance Company shall be

provided within twenty (20) days of K.E.’s death.

       The amounts set forth in sections II.A. and II.B. represent all elements of compensation

to which K.E. would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioners agree. 5

4 Petitioners authorize the disclosure of certain documents filed by the petitioners in this case
consistent with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program System of Records, No. 09-15-0056.

5 At the time the first annuity payment set forth in section II.B. is received, K.E. will be an adult,
and thus guardianship is not required.
                                                  3
III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.     A lump sum payment of $12,238.60, representing compensation for satisfaction
              of the State of South Carolina Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable
              jointly to petitioners and:

                                           Equian
                                     Attn: Nicole Gulley
                                      P.O. Box 182643
                                   Columbus, Ohio 43218
                               Equian Event Number: 68721966

       Petitioners agree to endorse the check to Equian for satisfaction of the Medicaid lien;

       B.     A lump sum payment of $9,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioners;
              and

       C.     An amount of $96,000.00 to purchase the annuity contract described above in
              section II.B.

                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             BRIAN M. BOYNTON
                                             Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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

                                             HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                                             Deputy Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                             TRACI R. PATTON
                                             Assistant Director
                                             Torts Branch, Civil Division

                                                4
                        /s/ Benjamin P. Warder
                        BENJAMIN P. WARDER
                        Trial Attorney
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division
                        U.S. Department of Justice
                        P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
                        Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                        Direct Dial: (202) 532-5464
                        Email: Benjamin.P.Warder@usdoj.gov

DATE: August 24, 2022

                          5