United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Stedje v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 10, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-503V

JOHN LYNN STEDJE Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: July 31, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

LeeAnne Pedrick, Mctlaw, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Margaret Armstrong, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On April 3, 2024, John Lynn Stedje 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 from Guillain Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) following an influenza vaccine administered on September 24, 2021. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On February 5, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On July 29, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation indicating Petitioner should be awarded $168,274.04 (comprised of $166,875.00 for pain and suffering and $1,399.04 for unreimbursable expenses).

Respondent’s Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Proffer”) at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id.

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).

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 Proffer, I award Petitioner lump sum payment of $168,274.04 ((comprised of $166,875.00 for pain and suffering and $1,399.04 for unreimbursable 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

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 ) JOHN LYNN STEDJE, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 24-503V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On April 3, 2024, John Lynn Stedje (“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 the Vaccine Injury Table injury of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that developed following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on September 24, 2021. Petition at 1. On January 6, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe. ECF No. 20. On February 5, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 22.

I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $166,875.00 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 $1,399.04. 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 following 1: a lump sum payment of $168,274.04 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.

Respectfully submitted, BRETT A. SHUMATE Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

1 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.

COLLEEN C. HARTLEY Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Margaret Armstrong MARGARET ARMSTRONG 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) 616-4043 E-mail: [email protected] DATED: July 29, 2025

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