Court Opinion

ID: 4325715
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-30 16:02:09.863173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:50.234281
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 17-1651V
                                         (Not to be Published)

*************************
PATSY GIPSON, Trustee of Alfred J. *
Gipson, Deceased,                  *
                                   *
             Petitioner,           *                           Filed: October 1, 2018
                                   *
v.                                 *
                                   *                           Entitlement; Influenza Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                *                           Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                *                           Conceded.
                                   *
             Respondent.           *
                                   *
*************************

Timothy J. Lessman, Knutson & Casey Law Firm, Mankato, MN, for Petitioner.

Lisa A. Watts, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                 RULING FINDING ENTITLEMENT1

        On November 1, 2017, Patty Gipson filed a petition on behalf of her husband, Alfred
Gipson, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2
Petitioner alleged that Mr. Gipson suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of
receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccination on November 5, 2015, and that his death on January 1,
2017, was a sequela of that injury. Petition (ECF No. 1) at 1. Petitioner subsequently amended her
petition on September 5, 2018, to remove the requested compensation for Mr. Gibson’s death

1
 Although this Ruling has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the Court
of Federal Claims’s website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). This means
the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B),
however, the parties may object to the Ruling’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically,
under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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). Otherwise, the Ruling in its present form will be available. Id.
2
 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act
of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 through 34 (2012)).
(thus, limiting her compensation request to Mr. Gibson’s GBS injury). Amended Petition (ECF
No. 22) at 1.

       In his Rule 4(c) Report, Respondent acknowledged that Petitioner’s claim is compensable
as a Table injury under the Act. See Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report, dated Aug. 24, 2018 (ECF
No. 21). Respondent specifically stated that medical personnel at the Division of Injury
Compensation Programs, Department of Health and Human Services, have reviewed the petition
and accompanying documents filed in this case, as well as the relevant medical records, and
Respondent has concluded that Petitioner satisfied the criteria set forth in the Table. Id. at 5-6.
Respondent concedes that the evidence shows that Petitioner suffered from GBS as a result of the
flu vaccine, and that onset occurred within the appropriate timeframe. Id. Respondent therefore
concludes that Petitioner is entitled to an award of damages. Id.

        In view of Respondent’s concession, and based on my own review of the record (see §
300aa-13(a)(1); 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a)(I)), I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation for an
injury that was caused-in-fact by a covered vaccine. 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a)(XIV), 100.3(b)(2). A
separate damages order will be issued shortly.

       Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Cate Rodgers, at (202) 357-6345.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                              /s/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                Special Master

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