United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Choi v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 24, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No 21-1092V

SUNGJIN CHOI, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: August 23, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Edward M. Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON DAMAGES1 On March 22, 2021, Sungjin Choi 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 he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”), a Table injury, as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on September 22, 2019.

Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 20, 2023, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On August 23, 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 $179,616.57 (representing $171,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $8,116.57 for past unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. Proffer at 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

SUNGJIN CHOI, Petitioner, v. No. 21-1092V Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On March 22, 2021, Sungjin Choi (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to - (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 22, 2019. Petition at 1. On March 16, 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed an Amended Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act, and on March 20, 2023, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 34; ECF No. 35.

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $171,500.00 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 $8,116.57. 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 of $179,616.57, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

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 COLLEEN C. HARTLEY Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Alexa Roggenkamp ALEXA ROGGENKAMP Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 616-4179 Dated: August 23, 2024 [email protected]

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