Aman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2023 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 23-0087V
EDWARD L. AMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: November 8, 2023
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Matthew F. Belanger, Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester, NY, for Petitioner.
Joseph Douglas Leavitt, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On January 23, 2023, Edward L. Aman 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 he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on September 23, 2020. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On August 2, 2023, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for GBS. On November 7, 2023, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $141,617.70
(comprised of $135,000.00 in pain and suffering and $6,617.70 in past unreimbursable
expenses). Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees
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).
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 $141,617.70 (comprised of $135,000.00 in pain and suffering and
$6,617.70 in past unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under Section 15(a).
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.
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
EDWARD L. AMAN,
Petitioner,
v. No. 23-87V (ECF)
Chief Special Master Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On January 23, 2023, Edward L. Aman (“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 that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome
(“GBS”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza
vaccine that he received on September 23, 2020. ECF No. 1 at 1. On July 28, 2023, respondent
filed a Rule 4(c) Report, concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as defined by the Vaccine
Injury Table within the Table timeframe and recommending that this Court enter a ruling finding
petitioner entitled to compensation. See ECF No. 16 at 1, 3-4. On August 2, 2023, Chief Special
Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to
compensation. ECF No. 17 at 2.
I. Items of Compensation
a. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $135,000.00 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
pertaining to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $6,617.70. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).
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 following:1 a lump sum payment of $141,617.70, in the form of
a check payable to petitioner.
III. Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment
Lump sum payable to petitioner, Edward L. Aman: $141,617.70
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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
2
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ Joseph Leavitt
JOSEPH D. LEAVITT
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) 616-0515
Email: joseph.leavitt@usdoj.gov
Dated: November 7, 2023
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