VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01111
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01111
Petitioner: Kathleen Beldon
Filed: 2021-05-10
Decided: 2022-01-19
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2018-09-13
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 92490

AI-assisted case summary:
Kathleen Beldon filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused by the influenza vaccine she received on September 13, 2018. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Ms. Beldon is entitled to compensation. The respondent specifically stated that her condition satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Based on this concession and the evidence of record, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Ms. Beldon eligible for compensation. Subsequently, the parties submitted a proffer on the award of compensation. The respondent proposed an award of $92,490.00, comprising $90,000.00 for pain and suffering and $2,490.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses. Ms. Beldon agreed with this proposed award. The court accepted the proffer and awarded Ms. Beldon a lump sum payment of $92,490.00, representing compensation for all damages available under the Act.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01111-0
Date issued/filed: 2021-06-10
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 05/10/2021) regarding 27 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 29 Filed 06/10/21 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-1111V
UNPUBLISHED
KATHLEEN BELDON, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: May 10, 2021
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Respondent.
Simina Vourlis, Law Offices of Simina Vourlis, Columbus, OH, for Petitioner.
Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On September 1, 2020, Kathleen Beldon filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). In order to correct the misspelling of her first name, Petitioner filed an
amended petition on April 21, 2021. ECF No. 20. Petitioner alleges that she suffered
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) caused-in-fact by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she
received on September 13, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 50. Petitioner further alleges that
she received the vaccine in the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her
GBS for more than six months, and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil
action or received compensation for her GBS, alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶1, 51,
54-55. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.
1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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). 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).

Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 29 Filed 06/10/21 Page 2 of 2
On May 10, 2021, 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 states that “[i]t is [his] position that [P]etitioner has satisfied the
criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the 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
2

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01111-1
Date issued/filed: 2022-01-19
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/15/2021) regarding 37 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/19/22 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-1111V
UNPUBLISHED
KATHLEEN BELDON, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: December 15, 2021
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
HUMAN SERVICES, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Respondent.
Simina Vourlis, Law Offices of Simina Vourlis, Columbus, OH, for Petitioner.
Mark Kim Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On September 1, 2020, Kathleen Beldon filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). In order to correct the misspelling of her first name, Petitioner filed an
amended petition on April 21, 2021. ECF No. 20. Petitioner alleges that she suffered
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) caused-in-fact by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she
received on September 13, 2018. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 50. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On May 10, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for her GBS. On December 15, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $92,490.00,
representing compensation in the amount of $90,000.00 for her pain and suffering and
1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
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). This means the Decision 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 (2012).

Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/19/22 Page 2 of 5
$2,490.00 for her unreimbursed, out-of-pocket medical expenses. Proffer at 1. In the
Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2.
Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in
the Proffer.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $92,490.00, representing compensation in the amount of
$90,000.00 for her pain and suffering and $2,490.00 for her unreimbursable
expenses in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents
compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a).
The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/19/22 Page 3 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
KATHLEEN BELDON,
Petitioner,
Case No. 20-1111V (ECF)
v. CHIEF SPECIAL MASTER
CORCORAN
SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
I. Procedural History
On May 10, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that
Kathleen Beldon (“petitioner”) suffered an injury that is compensable under the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (“the
Act”). Accordingly, on May 10, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on
Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation under the Act.
II. Items of Compensation and Form of the Award
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be
awarded $92,490.00. The award is comprised of the following: $90,000.00 for pain and
suffering and $2,490.00 for unreimbursed, out-of-pocket medical expenses. This amount
represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under

Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/19/22 Page 4 of 5
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) regarding her September 13, 2018, influenza vaccination.
Petitioner agrees.1
III. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through a lump sum payment of $92,490.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Petitioner agrees.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this
case.
Respectfully submitted,
BRIAN M. BOYNTON
Acting Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
DARRYL R. WISHARD
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
1 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move
the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for
future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
2

Case 1:20-vv-01111-UNJ Document 41 Filed 01/19/22 Page 5 of 5
s/ Mark K. Hellie
MARK K. HELLIE
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
T: (202) 616-4208
E: mark.hellie@usdoj.gov
DATED: December 15, 2021
3