Hayes v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-2105V

GARY HAYES, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, v. Filed: December 5, 2024

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Catherine Wallace Costigan, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Neil Bhargava, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON DAMAGES1

On December 12, 2023, Gary Hayes filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”), alleging that he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”), a Table injury, as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 10, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 31, 2024, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for GBS corresponding to a listing on the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a)(XIV)(D), (c)(15)).

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). On December 4, 2024, Respondent filed the attached proffer. I find the stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached proffer, I award a lump sum of $165,456.13 (representing $147,500.00 for pain and suffering, $1,956.13 for past unreimbursable expenses, and $16,000.00 for past lost wages) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. Proffer at 2. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id.

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.

2 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

) GARY HAYES, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 23-1205V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) )

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER OF DAMAGES

On December 12, 2023, Gary Hayes (“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 from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”), as

defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he

received on October 10, 2022. Pet. at 2. On October 31, 2024, 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 Table GBS injury, and on the same day, the

Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.

ECF Nos. 26, 27.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $147,500.00 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

1 related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past

unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,956.13. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).

Petitioner agrees.

C. Lost Wages

Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past lost wages related to his

vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost wages in

the amount of $16,000.00. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(A). 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $165,456.13, in the form of

a check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Gary Hayes: $165,456.13

Respectfully submitted,

BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO 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 unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

2 HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

/s/ NEIL BHARGAVA NEIL BHARGAVA Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 305-3989 Neil.Bhargava@usdoj.gov

Date: December 4, 2024