Court Opinion

ID: 4501751
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-27 17:01:55.203973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:01.628261
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                  (Filed: December 31, 2019)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *               *       UNPUBLISHED
ALLISON FERRINI, parent and natural       *
guardian of minor, W.F., a minor,         *
                                          *       No. 18-1628V
             Petitioner,                  *
                                          *
v.                                        *       Special Master Dorsey
                                          *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *       Ruling on Entitlement; Conceded;
                                          *       Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-Barré
             Respondent.                  *       Syndrome (“GBS”).
                                          *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bridget C. McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Ronalda E. Kosh, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On October 23, 2018, Allison Ferrini (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”)2 alleging that W.F.
received an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on November 13, 2015, and thereafter developed
Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”). Petition at 1.

       On December 30, 2019, respondent filed a report pursuant to Vaccine Rule 4(c) in which
he concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Am. Resp. Rept. at 2-3.

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post this decision on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002 § 205, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2006). In
accordance with the Vaccine Rules, each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of
any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in
substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the
disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule
18(b). Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for redaction must include a
proposed redacted decision. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material
fits within the requirements of that provision, such material will be deleted from public access.
2
 The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42
U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereafter, individual
section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.
Specifically, respondent agrees that the alleged injury in this matter is consistent with GBS. Id.
at 2. Based on a review of the medical records, respondent states that W.F. has met the
applicable statutory requirements by suffering his condition for more than six months and that,
therefore, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act. Id.

        A special master may determine whether a petitioner is entitled to compensation based
upon the record. A hearing is not required. § 300aa-13; Vaccine Rule 8(d). In light of
respondent’s concession and a review of the record, the undersigned finds that petitioner is
entitled to compensation. This matter shall now proceed to the damages phase.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                Special Master

                                                 2