Court Opinion

ID: 4037485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-27 20:02:31.236265+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:18.542085
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1083V
                                     Filed: August 31, 2016

*************************
REBECCA SWANICK on behalf of J.S. *
                                  *                          Special Master Gowen
                                  *
                                  *
                     Petitioner,  *
                                  *                          Syncopal Episode;
     v.                           *                          Flumist; Hepatitis A; Tetanus
                                  *                          Diptheria-acellular Pertussis;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH               *                          Menactra;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,               *
                     Respondent. *
*************************

                                RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Gowen, Special Master:

       On September 28, 2015, Rebecca Swanick (“petitioner”) filed a petition on behalf of her
minor child, J.S., for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42
U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”). The petition alleges that J.S. suffered
a syncopal episode resulting in a fractured jaw and broken teeth, as a result of the administration
of Flumist, Hepatitis A, Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular-Pertussis, and Menactra vaccines on October
15, 2012. Petition at Preamble, ¶ 2, filed Sept. 28, 2015.

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat.
2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). As provided by Vaccine Rule
18(b), 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).
2
  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
       On August 31, 2016, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report (“Respondent’s Report”), in which
she concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Report at 1.
Specifically, respondent “believes that J.S.’s syncopal event is related to the administration of one
or more of the vaccines she received on October 15, 2012.” Id. at 3; see 42 U.S.C. §300aa-
13(a)(1)(B). She adds that, “based on the medical records . . . J.S. suffered the residual effects of
her condition for more than six months,” and therefore, “petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Respondent’s Report at 3; see §300aa-11(c)(D)(ii).

      In view of respondent’s concession, and the evidence before me, I find entitlement to
compensation under the Vaccine Act. See 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a), (b)(2). A separate decision on
damages will issue.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/ Thomas L. Gowen
                                              Thomas L. Gowen
                                              Special Master