United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Hess v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 9, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1031V UNPUBLISHED

CHARLES HESS, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: January 10, 2022 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.

Timothy James Lessman, Knutson & Casey Law Firm, Mankato, MN, for Petitioner. Joseph Adam Lewis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On March 5, 2021, Charles Hess 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 Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on September 21, 2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that he received the vaccine in the United States, suffered the residual effects or complications of his illness for more than six months, and has never received compensation or filed a civil action for his vaccine-related injuries. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 18-19. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On January 6, 2022, 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 has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”) for GBS following a flu vaccine.” Id. at 8.

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

1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).

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