Court Opinion

ID: 4423771
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-08 12:01:46.117291+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:26:15.499037
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-815V
                                       Filed: May 2, 2019
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MICHELLE MARIE COBENAIS,

                          Petitioner,                         Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    v.                                                        Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                                              Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                         Respondent.

Troy Allen Poetz, Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd., St. Cloud, MN, for petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 8, 2018, petitioner 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”) due to an
influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on October 7, 2015. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On April 30, 2019, 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 respondent’s position that petitioner has satisfied the criteria set
forth in the recently revised Vaccine Injury Table (Table) and the Qualifications and Aids

1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is 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).

2   National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
to Interpretation (QAI), 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 8. Respondent further agrees that petitioner
experienced sequelae of her GBS for more than six months and that petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id.

     In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Chief Special Master