United States Court of Federal Claims, 2023

Hintzke v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 17, 2023 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-1534V

ROBERT HINTZKE,

Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v.

Filed: September 28, 2023 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Edward M. Kraus, Kraus Law Group, LLC, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.

Emilie Williams, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On October 17, 2022, Robert Hintzke 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 from anaphylaxis within four hours of receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on September 3, 2020. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On June 15, 2023, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On September 28, 2023, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $117,178.00, consisting of $110,000.00, in pain and suffering, and $7,178.00, in past unreimbursable expenses. Proffer at 1-2. 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 $117,178.00 (consisting of $110,000.00, in pain and suffering, and $7,178.00, in past 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 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 ROBERT HINTZKE,

Petitioner, No. 22-1534V

v. Chief Special Master Corcoran

ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On October 17, 2022, Robert Hintzke (“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 he suffered anaphylaxis, as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccine on September 3, 2020. See Petition at 1. On June 15, 2023, 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. 18; ECF No. 19. I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00 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 he incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $7,178.00. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $117,178.00, representing compensation for all elements of economic and noneconomic damages, in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Robert Hintzke.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Robert Hintzke: $117,178.00

Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Emilie F. Williams EMILIE F. WILLIAMS Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 305-0124 [email protected]

Dated: September 28, 2023

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018). 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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