Keller v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-1256V Filed: July 10, 2019 UNPUBLISHED NORMA KELLER, Personal Representative of the Estate of ELIZABETH KELLER, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; Petitioner, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; v. Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Nancy Routh Meyers, Ward Black Law, Greensboro, NC, for petitioner. Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On August 21, 2018, petitioner, as personal representative of the estate of Elizabeth Keller, 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 Elizabeth Keller suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September 19, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This means the ruling 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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). 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. On June 25, 2019, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent has concluded that petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Id. at 3-4. In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master