Brugueras v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-0812V

HUMBERT DONATO BRUGUERAS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: October 11, 2023 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Roberto E. Ruiz-Comas, RC Legal and Litigation Services LLC, Guaynabo, PR, for Petitioner.

James Vincent Lopez, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On July 26, 2022, Humbert Donato Brugueras 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”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on September 21, 2020. Petition at 1.

Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United States, he suffered sequela of GBS for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever filed any action or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 14, 16, 17. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018).

On October 6, 2023, 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 and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which afford petitioner a presumption of causation if the onset of GBS occurs between three and forty- two days after a seasonal flu vaccination and there is no apparent alternative cause.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that the records indicate that Petitioner has met the statutory requirements, and all legal prerequisites, for compensation. Id. 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