Brugueras v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-0812V

HUMBERT DONATO BRUGUERAS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: May 28, 2024 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Roberto E. Ruiz-Comas, RC Legal and Litigation Services LLC, Guaynabo, PR, for Petitioner.

James Vincent Lopez, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 26, 2022, Humbert Donato Brugueras 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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on September 21, 2020. Petition at 1.

Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United States, he suffered sequela of GBS for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever filed any action or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 14, 16, 17. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 11, 2023, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On May 28, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of 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). compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $198,742.63. Proffer at 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 $198,742.63 (comprised of $167,500.00 in pain and suffering and $31,242.63 in 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

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 ___________________________________ ) HUMBERT DONATO BRUGUERAS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 22-812V v. ) Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 26, 2022, Humberto Donato Brugueras (“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 he suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 21, 2020. See Petition at 1-2. On October 6, 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 for a GBS Table injury, and on October 11, 2023, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 25, 27.

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $167,500.00 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 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 $31,242.63. 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 $198,742.63, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Humberto Donato Brugueras: $198,742.63 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 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.

JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s James V. Lopez James V. Lopez Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3655 Fax: (202) 616-4310 Email: [email protected]

Date: May 28, 2024