         In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0720V
                                     Filed: March 23, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED


    PAULA BURCHAM,

                        Petitioner,                          Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    v.                                                       Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
                                                             Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Barre Syndrome (GBS)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.


Randall G. Knutson, Knutson & Casey Law Firm, Mankato, MN, for petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                               DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On May 31, 2017, petitioner 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”) caused by
the influenza vaccine she received on September 26, 2015, and that the symptoms of
her GBS first occurred within 11 days of vaccination. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 4-7, 10. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On December 20, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for her GBS. On March 22, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $140,000.00.
Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the
proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that
petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
       Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $140,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Paula Burcham. 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.

                                          s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          Nora Beth Dorsey
                                          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
                  THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS


PAULA BURCHAM,

                      Petitioner,

v.                                                    No. 17-720V
                                                      Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                               ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,

                      Respondent.


             RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

       On December 15, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, in which he recommended

that the Court find petitioner entitled to compensation, and on December 20, 2017, the Court

entered its Ruling on Entitlement, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Respondent now

proffers that petitioner receive an award of a lump sum of $140,000.00 in the form of a check

payable to petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all elements of compensation

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner is entitled.1

       Petitioner agrees with the proffered award of $140,000.00.2

                                                     Respectfully submitted,

                                                     CHAD A. READLER
                                                     Acting Assistant Attorney General




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 medical
expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
2
  This proffer does not include any award for attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e).


                                                 1
                            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/ RYAN D. PYLES
                            RYAN D. PYLES
                            Trial Attorney
                            Torts Branch, Civil Division
                            U.S. Department of Justice
                            P.O. Box 146
                            Benjamin Franklin Station
                            Washington, DC 20044-0146
                            Tel: (202) 616-9847

Dated: March 22, 2018




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