United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Bowles v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 1, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-0498V

BEVERLY BOWLES, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: October 1, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Joseph Alexander Vuckovich, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Naseem Kourosh, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON DAMAGES1 On April 12, 2023, Beverly Bowles 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 alleged that she suffered Guillain Barré syndrome (“GBS”) following her receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 30, 2020. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On July 17, 2024, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On October 1, 2024, Respondent filed a Proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”). Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 1 – 2. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

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).

Pursuant to the terms stated in the Proffer, I award the following compensation: A lump sum of $197,727.64 (representing $197,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $727.64 for unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. Proffer at 1 – 2. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. 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

BEVERLY BOWLES, Petitioner, No. 23-498V (ECF) v. Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On April 12, 2023, Beverly Bowles (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2018) (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered Guillain Barré Syndrome as a result of an influenza vaccine. ECF No. 1.

On July 10, 2024, 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. ECF No. 28.

On July 17, 2024, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner is entitled to compensation. ECF No. 30. On the same date, the Chief Special Master issued a damages order. ECF No. 31.

I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $197,727.64 in damages, consisting of $197,000.00 in pain and suffering and $727.64 in unreimbursable expenses, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be 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 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: a lump sum payment of $197,727.64, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 1 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 LARA A. ENGLUND Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Naseem Kourosh NASEEM KOUROSH Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 305-1159 [email protected] DATED: October 1, 2024

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 pain and suffering, and future lost wages.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.