United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Beldon v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 19, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1111V UNPUBLISHED

KATHLEEN BELDON, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: December 15, 2021 v.

Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-

Barre Syndrome (GBS) Respondent.

Simina Vourlis, Law Offices of Simina Vourlis, Columbus, OH, for Petitioner. Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 1, 2020, Kathleen Beldon filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). In order to correct the misspelling of her first name, Petitioner filed an amended petition on April 21, 2021. ECF No. 20. Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) caused-in-fact by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on September 13, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 50. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On May 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her GBS. On December 15, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $92,490.00, representing compensation in the amount of $90,000.00 for her pain and suffering and $2,490.00 for her unreimbursed, out-of-pocket medical expenses. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 $92,490.00, representing compensation in the amount of $90,000.00 for her pain and suffering and $2,490.00 for her unreimbursable expenses in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 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

KATHLEEN BELDON,

Petitioner,

Case No. 20-1111V (ECF) v. CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER

CORCORAN SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

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

On May 10, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that Kathleen Beldon (“petitioner”) suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (“the Act”). Accordingly, on May 10, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation under the Act. II. Items of Compensation and Form of the Award

Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $92,490.00. The award is comprised of the following: $90,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,490.00 for unreimbursed, out-of-pocket medical expenses. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) regarding her September 13, 2018, influenza vaccination. Petitioner agrees.1 III. Form of the Award

The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $92,490.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

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

Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division DARRYL R. WISHARD Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/ Mark K. Hellie MARK K. HELLIE Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 T: (202) 616-4208 E: [email protected]

DATED: December 15, 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 Section 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 medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

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