Ramas v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0008V

JOSE LUIS RAMAS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: January 23, 2026 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Sean Frank Greenwood, Greenwood Law Firm, Houston, TX, for Petitioner.

Sara DeStefano, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On January 3, 2025, Jose Luis Ramas 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 the Vaccine Injury Table injury of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) that developed following an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 4, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 25, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On January 23, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $195,283.70, consisting of $165,000.00, in pain and suffering, $29,177.10, in lost earnings, and $1,106.60, in past unreimbursable 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.

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).

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $195,283.70 (consisting of $165,000.00, in pain and suffering, $29,177.10, in lost earnings, and $1,106.60, in past 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

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

JOSE LUIS RAMAS, Petitioner, No. 25-8V (ECF) Chief Special Master Corcoran v. SPU SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1 On January 3, 2025, Jose Luis Ramas (“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 he suffered the Vaccine Injury Table injury of Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) that developed following an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 4, 2022. Petition at 1.

On August 22, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report concluding that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a GBS Table injury, and on August 25, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 20.

I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded the following:

This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after the Damages Decision is issued.

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $165,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

B. Lost Earnings Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred lost earnings related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost wages in the amount of $29,177.10. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). Petitioner agrees.

C. 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 $1,106.60. 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/Recommended Payment The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following 2: A lump sum payment of $195,283.70 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Jose Luis Ramas.

Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

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.

Respectfully submitted, BRETT A. SHUMATE Assistant Attorney General JONATHAN D. GUYNN Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division LARA A. ENGLUND Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Sara DeStefano SARA DESTEFANO 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) 307-6545 E-mail: [email protected]

DATED: January 23, 2026