Stastny v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-22-V

************************* * ERICA STASTNY, * Chief Special Master Corcoran * Petitioner, * Filed: January 13, 2025 * * v. * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * *************************

Tim Rutherford McCarthy, Nutt Law Office, Louisville, KY, for Petitioner.

James Vincent Lopez, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On January 2, 2020, Erica Stastny filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (the “Vaccine Program”). Petitioner alleges that an influenza vaccine she received on October 5, 2018, caused “adverse effects,” including a right shoulder abscess. See generally Petition. In particular, Petitioner contends that the vaccine she received was administered by a Kentucky mobile vaccination entity that was later determined to have exercised inadequate safety control over its vaccines, resulting in numerous vaccinated individuals experiencing comparable abscess injuries.

This matter was initiated at the same time as a number of related petitions brought by similarly-situated claimants and represented by the same attorney.2 The parties consented to

1 Under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen (14) 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 in its present form. Id. 2 See generally Silvers v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (No. 20-1V), Stewart v. Health and Human Services (No. 20-19V), Williams v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (No. 20-1048V), Atkins v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (No. 20-333V), and Williams v. Secretary of Health and Human Services (No. 20-1120V). resolution of entitlement in one “test case,” the results of which could then be applied to the related cases. In April 2024, I ruled in favor of the test case petitioner, finding that the administration of the influenza vaccine had caused him to experience a right shoulder skin abscess associated with a bacterial infection. See generally Silvers v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 20-1V, 2024 WL 2799285 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 25, 2024).

On October 29, 2024, Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report in this action. See Respondent’s Report (ECF No. 31) (“Report”). Having reviewed the evidence in this case and taking into account the Silvers decision, Respondent elected not to defend the case, requesting instead a ruling on the record. Report at 1-2. In view of Respondent’s position, and after my own review of the record, I found Petitioner was entitled to an award of damages. See Atkins v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs., No. 20-333V, 2024 WL 5297983 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 20, 2024).

On January 7, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer proposing an award of compensation. Proffer (ECF No. 33) (“Proffer”). I have reviewed the filing and based upon that review, I conclude that Respondent’s proffer (as attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my Decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth therein.

The Proffer awards:

• A lump sum payment of $10,000.00, representing compensation for pain and suffering, in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.

Proffer at 1. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which Petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id. at 2.

I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made to Petitioner. 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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately) a notice renouncing their right to seek review.

2 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ___________________________________ ) ERICA STASTNY, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 20-22V v. ) Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________)

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On January 2, 2020, Erica Stastny (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under

the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the Vaccine Act” or “the

Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, alleging an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on

October 5, 2018, caused “adverse effects,” including a right shoulder abscess. See Petition

(“Pet.”) at 1; Petitioner’s Exhibit 11 at 1-2. On October 29, 2024, the Secretary of Health and

Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report electing not to defend and requesting a

ruling on the record regarding petitioner’s entitlement to compensation. ECF No. 31. On

November 20, 2024, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that

petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation. ECF No. 32.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $10,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. This amount represents 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 following 1: a lump sum payment of $10,000.00, in the form of a

check payable to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Erica Stastny: $10,000.00

Respectfully submitted,

BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

VORIS E. JOHNSON Assistant 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 /s James V. Lopez James V. Lopez Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3655 Fax: (202) 616-4310 Email: james.lopez@usdoj.gov

Date: January 7, 2025