welcome to elawyers.us
Elawyers Elawyers
Washington| Change
  1. Home
  2. Case Laws
  3. United States Court of Federal Claims
  4. 2018
  5. Lehrman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 13-901V. (2018)

Lehrman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 13-901V. (2018)

Court: United States Court of Federal Claims Number: infdco20181217834 Visitors: 6
Filed: Nov. 19, 2018
Latest Update: Nov. 19, 2018
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 MINDY MICHAELS ROTH , Special Master . On November 13, 2013, Steve Lehrman ["Mr. Lehrman or "petitioner"] filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 Petitioner alleges that he developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 25, 2011. See Petition, ECF No. 1. An entitlement hearing was held; on March 19, 2018, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that
More

UNPUBLISHED

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On November 13, 2013, Steve Lehrman ["Mr. Lehrman or "petitioner"] filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that he developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome ("GBS") after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 25, 2011. See Petition, ECF No. 1. An entitlement hearing was held; on March 19, 2018, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation. See Ruling on Entitlement, ECF No. 86. Respondent filed a proffer on November 19, 2018, agreeing to issue the following payment:

A lump sum of $107,145.01 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Steve Lehrman. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a).

I adopt respondent's proffer attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount and on the terms set forth therein. The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1

I. Procedural History

On November 13, 2013, Steve Lehrman ("petitioner") filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. ("Vaccine Act"). Petitioner alleged that he suffered from Guillain-Barre syndrome that was caused-in-fact by his receipt of the influenza vaccine on October 25, 2011. On February 24, 2014, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, denying that entitlement to compensation was appropriate in this case. On March 19, 2018, the Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation.

II. Items of Compensation

Petitioner alleges entitlement to the following elements of compensation: past and future pain and suffering, past lost earnings, and past unreimbursed expenses. Respondent proffers that, based on the Special Master's entitlement decision and the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $107,145.01, consisting of $100,000.00 for past and future pain and suffering, $4,251.15 for past lost earnings, and $2,893.86 for past unreimbursed expenses.2 This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

III. Form of the Award

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner be made through a lump sum payment of $107,145.01, via a check payable to petitioner.3 Petitioner agrees.

FootNotes


1. Although this Decision has been formally designated "unpublished," it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims's website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the Decision's inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen days within which to request redaction "of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy." Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public. Id.
2. National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all "§" references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).
3. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a 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. The parties have no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages. Assuming the Special Master issues a damages decision in conformity with this proffer, the parties waive their right to seek review of such damages decision. However, respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Special Master's March 19, 2018, entitlement decision.
3. 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.
Source:  Leagle
Lawyers who claimed
No Lawyers
Citations
13-901V.
Counsels
  • Sylvia Chin-Caplan
  • Darryl R. Wishard
Similar Cases

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer