Kallman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1289V

CATHY ANN KALLMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 30, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.

James Connor Daughton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On August 21, 2024, Cathy Ann Kallman 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 the Vaccine Table Injury of Guillain- Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of the flu vaccine administered on September 22, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 5, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On April 28, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $145,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $1,836.00 for past unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. 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.

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).

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 $146,836.00 (representing $145,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $1,836.00 for past unreimbursed expenses) to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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

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

CATHY ANN KALLMAN, Petitioner, v. No. 24-1289 (ECF) SECRETARY OF HEALTH Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On August 21, 2024, Cathy Ann Kallman (“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 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered the Vaccine Injury Table injury of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that developed following an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 22, 2023. Petition at 1. On March 3, 2025, 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 flu-GBS Table injury, and on March 5, 2025, 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 $145,000.00 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 $1,836.00. 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 and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $146,836.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.

Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering.

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division GABRIELLE M. FIELDING Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ J. Connor Daughton J. Connor Daughton Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 305-3907 [email protected] Dated: April 28, 2025