United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Lebar v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 29, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-2118V

JOSEPHINE LEBAR,

Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v.

Filed: December 28, 2023 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Diana Lynn Stadelnikas, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for Petitioner. Emilie Williams, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On November 1, 2021, Josephine Lebar 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 as a result of an influenza vaccination she received on November 29, 2020. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 13. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 8, 2023, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On December 28, 2023, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $163,519.91, consisting of $150,000.00 in pain and suffering, and $13,519.91 for out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. 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.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $163,519.91, consisting of $150,000.00 in pain and suffering, and $13,519.91 for out-of-pocket medical and related 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ___________________________________

) JOSEPHINE LEBAR, )

) Petitioner, ) No. 21-2118V ECF

)

v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran

) SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) AND HUMAN SERVICES, )

) Respondent. )

___________________________________ )

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1

I. Procedural History

On November 1, 2021, Josephine Lebar (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the influenza vaccine on November 29, 2020, she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). See Petition. On March 7, 2023, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe. On March 8, 2023, the Court issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a GBS Table injury.

II. Items of Compensation

Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded a lump sum of $163,519.91 for all damages, including $150,000.00 representative of pain and suffering, and $13,519.91 representative of out-of-pocket medical and related expenses. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III. Form of the Award

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 $163,519.91 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 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 LARA A. ENGLUND Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

/s/Emilie F. Williams EMILIE F. WILLIAMS Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U. S. Department of Justice P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 305-0124 [email protected]

Dated: December 28, 2023

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). 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. 1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after the Damages Decision is issued. 2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.

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