United States Court of Federal Claims, 2021

Natale v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 23, 2021 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-0989V UNPUBLISHED

GABRIELLE NATALE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: January 5, 2021 v.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Meningococcal Vaccine; Vasovagal

Syncope Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.

Julia Marter Collison, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On August 7, 2020, Gabrielle Natale 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 she suffered “syncope, a facial laceration and subsequent scarring,” after receiving a meningococcal vaccine on April 25, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On December 21, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her injury. On January 5, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00, representing all types of compensation to be awarded to Petitioner. 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 $45,000.00 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 GABRIELLE NATALE,

Petitioner, No. 20-989V v. Chief Special Master Corcoran

ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On August 7, 2020, Gabrielle Natale (“petitioner”) filed a Petition for Compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Petitioner alleges that she suffered “syncope, a facial laceration and subsequent scarring” upon receiving a meningococcal vaccine on April 25, 2019. See Petition at 1. On December 21, 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 subsequently issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 19; ECF No. 20. I. Items of Compensation

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00 in actual and projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that the award for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). 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 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $45,000.00, representing compensation for all elements of economic and noneconomic damages, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Gabrielle Natale.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Gabrielle Natale: $45,000.00

Respectfully submitted, JEFFREY BOSSERT CLARK Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Acting Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Julia M. Collison JULIA M. COLLISON Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 305-0102

Dated: January 5, 2021

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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