Filed: Dec. 03, 2019
Latest Update: Dec. 03, 2019
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On August 22, 2018, Gloria Kirkpatrick 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 Guillain-Barr syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on November 7, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Of
Summary: UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 BRIAN H. CORCORAN , Chief Special Master . On August 22, 2018, Gloria Kirkpatrick 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 Guillain-Barr syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on November 7, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Off..
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UNPUBLISHED
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
BRIAN H. CORCORAN, Chief Special Master.
On August 22, 2018, Gloria Kirkpatrick 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 Guillain-Barré syndrome ("GBS") as a result of an influenza ("flu") vaccine she received on November 7, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On August 23, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS. On December 3, 2019, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation ("Proffer") indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $127,216.71, representing $125,000.00 in actual and projected pain and suffering (this amount reflects that any award for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value), and $2,216.71 for reimbursement of her past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. 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 $127,216.71 (representing $125,000.00 in actual and projected pain and suffering, and $2,216.71) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 15(a).
The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
PROFFER ON AWARD OF DAMAGES
On August 22, 2018, Gloria Kirkpatrick ("petitioner") filed a petition for compensation ("Petition") under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to — 34 ("Vaccine Act" or "Act"), as amended. The Petition alleged that petitioner suffered Guillain-Barre syndrome following her receipt of an influenza vaccine on November 7, 2016. Respondent conceded petitioner's entitlement to compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on August 22, 2019. Based on Respondent's Rule 4(c) Report the Chief Special Master found petitioner entitled to compensation.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $125,000.00 in actual and projected pain and suffering. This amount reflects that any award for projected pain and suffering has been reduced to net present value. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents her expenditure of past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $2,216.71. Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment of $127,216.71, in the form of a check made payable to petitioner.1 This lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. HUNT
Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D'ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
CATHARINE E. REEVES
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/Jennifer L. Reynaud
JENNIFER L. REYNAUD
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) 305-1586
Date: December 3, 2019