HELLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

United States Court of Federal Claims·Decided November 3, 2025·No. 15-0792V·Unpublished

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 15-792V

************************* * * HEATHE HELLER and JENNA HELLER, * * Parents of H.H., a minor, * Special Master Jennifer A. Shah * Petitioners, * * * v. * Filed: October 2, 2025 * SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * * Respondent. * * ************************ *

Margaret M. Guerra, Margaret M. Guerra, Attorney at Law, Fort Worth, TX, for Petitioners; Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On July 27, 2015, Heathe and Jenna Miller (“Petitioners”) filed a petition on behalf of their son H.H., seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”).2 ECF No. 1 (“Pet.”). Petitioners alleged, in part, that as a result of his October

1 Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), 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 Decision in its present form will be available. Id. 2 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa. 17, 2013 influenza and Prevnar3 vaccinations and his October 23, 2013 vaccination with Pentacel,4 H.H. experienced either the onset or the significant aggravation of a degenerative neurologic disorder. Pet. at 1.

On January 4, 2023, former Special Master Katherine E. Oler issued a Ruling on Entitlement in favor of Petitioners. ECF No. 140. Special Master Oler found that Petitioners demonstrated by preponderant evidence that the Pentacel vaccine that H.H. received on October 23, 2013, caused a significant aggravation of his Type I interferonopathy. Id.

After the case entered the damages phase on January 4, 2023, Petitioners regularly filed additional medical records and documentation as the parties worked toward resolving damages. See ECF Nos. 143-192.

This case was reassigned to me on August 14, 2024. ECF No. 165. On October 1, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation recommending that Petitioners should be awarded a lump sum of $2,623,447.30 for the benefit of H.H., consisting of $669,567.30 for life care plan expenses in the first year after judgment; lost future earnings of $1,703,880.00; and $250,000.00 for pain and suffering. ECF No. 193 (“Proffer”). Additionally, the proffer recommended an award of $302,024.70 for Petitioners’ past unreimbursable expenses and an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract for H.H.’s remaining life care plan items. Id. The parties have no objection to the amount or form of the proffered award of damages. Proffer, fn. 1.

Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioners are entitled to an award as ordered below:

1. A Lump Sum

A lump sum payment of $2,623,447.30, which includes $669,567.30 for life care expenses expected to be incurred during the first year after judgment, $1,703,880.00 for lost future earnings, and $250,000.00 for pain and suffering, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioners’ counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioners, Heathe and Jenna Heller, as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of H.H., for the benefit of H.H.

2. A Lump Sum

A lump sum payment of $302,024.70, representing compensation for past unreimbursable

3 Prevnar: trademark for a preparation of pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine. DORLAND’S MEDICAL DICTIONARY ONLINE (“DORLAND’S”), https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=40909 (last accessed October 1, 2025). 4 Pentacel: trademark for a combination preparation of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed, poliovirus vaccine inactivated, and Haemophilus b conjugate (tetanus toxoid conjugate) vaccine. DORLAND’S, https://www.dorlandsonline.com/dorland/definition?id=37544 (last accessed October 1, 2025).

2 expenses, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioners’ counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioners, Heathe and Jenna Heller.

3. An Annuity

The remainder of damages shall be paid in the form of an annuity contract, which shall be purchased as soon as practicable after entry of judgment. The annuity contract will provide payments for the life care items contained in the life care plan, which items are described in section II.C and Appendix A of the October 1, 2025 Proffer, which is incorporated herein as if fully set forth. ECF No. 193. Accordingly, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(f)(4), Respondent shall purchase, and take ownership of, an annuity contract or contracts5 from one or more life insurance companies, as described below:

Each life insurance company must meet the following criteria:

1. Have a minimum of $250,000,000 of capital and surplus, exclusive of any mandatory security valuation reserve; and

2. Have one of the following ratings from two of the following rating organizations: a) A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s; b) Moody’s Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa; c) Standard and Poor’s Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA; d) Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA.

Respondent shall purchase an annuity contract or contracts from the life insurance company or companies for the benefit of H.H., pursuant to which the life insurance company or companies will agree to make payments periodically to Petitioners or guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of H.H., as described in section II.C and Appendix A of the October 1, 2025 Proffer.

This award represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment herewith.6

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Jennifer A. Shah Jennifer A. Shah Special Master

5 To satisfy the conditions set forth herein, in Respondent’s discretion, Respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one or more life insurance companies. 6 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice renouncing their right to seek review.

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HELLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, (uscfc 2025).

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Related

§ 300aa
42 U.S.C. § 300aa
§ 300aa-10
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10
§ 300aa-12
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B)
§ 300aa-15
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(f)(4)
Purposes
44 U.S.C. § 3501
§ 300a
42 U.S.C. § 300a