United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Schaffer v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 20, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1731V

REBEKAH SCHAFFER, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: January 12, 2024 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Meghan Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On August 19, 2021, Rebekah Schaffer 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 from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) following an influenza vaccination she received on October 8, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On June 22, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her GBS. On January 11, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $144,950.96, representing $132,500.00 for pain and suffering, $3,509.47 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $8,941.49 for past lost wages. 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.

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 attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $144,950.96, representing $132,500.00 for pain and suffering, $3,509.47 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $8,941.49 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 ) REBEKAH SCHAFFER, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 21-1731V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On August 19, 2021, Rebekah Schaffer (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation 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 she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) following the receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 8, 2018. See Petition at 1. On June 24, 2022, 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. 24. On June 27, 2022, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 25.

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $132,500.00 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 $3,509.47. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

C. Lost Wages 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 $8,941.49. 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 Chief Special Master Corcoran’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $144,950.96, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Rebekah Schaffer: $144,950.96 Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

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.

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division DARRYL R. WISHARD Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Meghan R. Murphy MEGHAN R. MURPHY Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-4264 [email protected] DATED: January 11, 2024

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