VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01439 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01439 Petitioner: Mona Ballard Filed: 2025-04-03 Decided: 2025-05-06 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2023-11-21 Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages Award amount USD: AI-assisted case summary: Mona Ballard filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 3, 2025, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on November 21, 2023. She stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that her condition resulted in residual effects for more than six months, and that no prior action or compensation had been received for her injuries. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Ms. Ballard is entitled to compensation. The respondent agreed that Ms. Ballard met the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which provide a presumption of causation for GBS if it occurs between three and forty-two days after a seasonal flu vaccination and has no apparent alternative cause. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence of record, the Chief Special Master found that Ms. Ballard is entitled to compensation, with the case to proceed to damages. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01439-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-05-06 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 04/03/2025) regarding 18 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (cr) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:24-vv-01439-UNJ Document 21 Filed 05/06/25 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1439V MONA BALLARD, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 3, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. LeeAnne Pedrick, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner. Benjamin Rex Eisenberg, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On September 16, 2024, Mona Ballard 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-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on November 21, 2023. Petition at 1- 5. Petitioner further alleges that the flu vaccine was administered in the United States, she experienced residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever brought an action or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injuries. Petition at 1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). Case 1:24-vv-01439-UNJ Document 21 Filed 05/06/25 Page 2 of 2 ¶¶ 1, 17, 18, 21, 22. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 1, 2025, 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 agrees that Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, 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 3-4. 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 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01439-cl-extra-11000886 Date issued/filed: 2025-05-06 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10534298 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1439V MONA BALLARD, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 3, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. LeeAnne Pedrick, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for Petitioner. Benjamin Rex Eisenberg, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On September 16, 2024, Mona Ballard 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-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on November 21, 2023. Petition at 1- 5. Petitioner further alleges that the flu vaccine was administered in the United States, she experienced residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever brought an action or received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injuries. Petition at 1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). ¶¶ 1, 17, 18, 21, 22. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 1, 2025, 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 agrees that Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, 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 3-4. 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