United States Court of Federal Claims, 2020

Kootsares v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided December 9, 2020 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1430V UNPUBLISHED

CHARLES KOOTSARES, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: November 6, 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.

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 18, 2019, Charles Kootsares 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-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) caused in fact by the influenza vaccine he received on September 26, 2017. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 36. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On September 17, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for his GBS. On October 23, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $150,200.00, representing compensation in the amounts of $147,500.00 for his pain and suffering and $2,700.00 for his unreimburseable expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees 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 Petitioner a lump sum payment of $150,200.00, representing compensation in the amounts of $147,500.00 for his pain and suffering and $2,700.00 for his unreimburseable expenses in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ____________________________________

)

CHARLES KOOTSARES, )

)

Petitioner, )

) No. 19-1430V

v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran

) ECF

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

____________________________________)

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION I. Procedural History

On September 17, 2020, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner sustained the onset of Guillain-Barré Syndrome within the Table time period following an influenza vaccine, and therefore sustained an injury that is compensable under the terms of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to - 34. Accordingly, on September 17, 2020, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for GBS following the influenza vaccine he received on September 26, 2017.

II. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering and Unreimbursable Expenses Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $150,200.00 ($147,500.00 for pain and suffering and $2,700.00 for unreimbursable expenses).

This represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III. 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 should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $150,200.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

IV. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Charles Kootsares: $150,200.00

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 GABRIELLE M. FIELDING Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/Christine Mary Becer CHRISTINE MARY BECER Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3665

DATED: October 23, 2020

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). 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. 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.

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