United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Offhaus v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided October 7, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 21-1226V

UNPUBLISHED

BROOKE OFFHAUS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: September 7, 2022 v.

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

Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for Petitioner.

Dhairya Divyakant Jani, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On April 16, 2021, Brooke Offhaus 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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on October 10, 2018. Petition at ¶1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 7, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her GBS. On September 7, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $99,633.75, comprised of $95,000.00 in pain and suffering, $1,410.00 in past unreimbursable expenses, and $3,223.75 in past lost wages. Proffer at I. 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 $$99,633.75, comprised of $95,000.00 in pain and suffering, $1,410.00 in past unreimbursable expenses, and $3,223.75 in past lost wages. 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 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.

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS *****************************

BROOKE OFFHAUS, * *

Petitioner, * * v. * No. 21-1226V (ECF) * CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER * BRIAN H. CORCORAN SECRETARY OF HEALTH *

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * *

Respondent. * *****************************

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On April 16, 2021, Brooke Offhaus (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Petitioner alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 10, 2018. Petition at 1. On March 4, 2022, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report recommending that compensation be awarded, and on March 7, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 19; ECF No. 20.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $95,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,410.00. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

C. Lost Wages

Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past lost wages related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost wages in the amount of $3,223.75. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). 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 following 1: a lump sum payment of $99,633.75, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Brooke Offhaus: $99,633.75

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 /s/ DHAIRYA D. JANI

DHAIRYA D. JANI

Trial Attorney

U.S. Department of Justice

Torts Branch, Civil Division

P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146

Tel: (202) 616-4356

Email: [email protected]

Dated: September 7, 2022

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). 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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