United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Gutknecht v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 16, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-764V

KELLY JO GUTKNECHT, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: August 14, 2024 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Timothy James Lessman, Knutson & Casey Law Firm, Mankato, MN, for Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On May 25, 2023, Kelly Jo Gutknecht 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 4, 2021 (a “Table injury”). Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On April 29, 2024, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 13, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 for pain and suffering, $3,431.13 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $213.00 for past lost wages.

Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the

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). 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 $93,644.13 (representing $90,000.00 for pain and suffering, $3,431.13 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $213.00 for 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 ************************************* KELLY JO GUTKNECHT, * * Petitioner, * No. 23-764V * Chief Special Master Corcoran v. * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * ************************************* RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On May 25, 2023, Kelly Jo Gutknecht (“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”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccine she received on October 4, 2021. Petition at 1. On April 22, 2024, respondent file a Rule 4(c) report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury, and on April 29, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation, ECF Nos. 16, 17.

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $90,000.00 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 $3,431.13. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

C. Past Wage Loss 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 $213.00. 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: a lump sum payment of $93,644.13, 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

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, unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY Senior Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Phone: (202) 616-4181 Dated: August 13, 2024 [email protected]

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