Hicks v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-1634V

KATHLEEN HICKS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: August 14, 2024 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Elizabeth Martin Muldowney, Sands Anderson, PC, Richmond, VA for Petitioner.

Eleanor Hanson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 On September 22, 2023, Kathleen Hicks 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-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), a defined Table injury or caused-in-fact injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 21, 2020. Petition at 1 ¶¶ 2, 37. Petitioner also alleged that she received the flu vaccine within the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her GBS illness for more than six months, and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for her illness, alleged as vaccine-related. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 36-38.

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 August 12, 2024, 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 believes that “Petitioner satisfies the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”).” Id. at 6.

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