Dougherty v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-0916V UNPUBLISHED

CHRISTOPHER DOUGHERTY, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: May 17, 2021 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.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On July 29, 2020, Christopher Dougherty 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 administered to him on October 20, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On May 7, 2021, 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, “it is [R]espondent’s position that petitioner suffered from GBS and that he has satisfied the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table (Table) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”), which afford him a presumption of vaccine causation if the onset of GBS occurs between three and forty-two days after a seasonal flu vaccination and there is no more likely alternative diagnosis and no apparent alternative cause.” Id. at 4.

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