Warr v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 18-0268V UNPUBLISHED GAIL WARR, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: January 7, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) Respondent. Simina Vourlis, Law Offices of Simina Vourlis, Columbus, OH, for petitioner. Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On February 21, 2018, Gail Warr 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-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October 1, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On January 3, 2020, 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 agrees that “petitioner suffered the Table injury of GBS following a flu vaccine within the Table time period, and that there is not a 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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). 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, 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). preponderance of the medical evidence that petitioner’s GBS was due to a factor unrelated to the vaccination.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner experienced the sequelae of her GBS for more than six months and thus “has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4-5. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2