VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01886 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01886 Petitioner: Jennell Jaquays Filed: 2024-11-15 Decided: 2025-10-24 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2023-10-09 Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome and death Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages Award amount USD: AI-assisted case summary: On November 15, 2024, Rebecca Heineman filed a petition on behalf of her deceased spouse, Jennell Jaquays, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 9, 2023 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome and that Ms. Jaquays died on January 10, 2024 from the same illness. The public entitlement record is brief and does not describe the first neurologic symptoms, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, treatment, decline, or circumstances of death. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that the record supported a Table GBS injury after seasonal influenza vaccination. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran accepted respondent's concession and found entitlement on October 24, 2025. Damages remained to be determined. Theory of causation field: Influenza vaccine October 9, 2023 allegedly causing Table GBS and death; adult/deceased, exact age not stated; death January 10, 2024. ENTITLEMENT CONCEDED; damages pending. Public entitlement ruling does not describe neurologic onset, hospitalization, treatment, or death circumstances. Chief SM Brian H. Corcoran; petitioner Rebecca Heineman on behalf of spouse Jennell Jaquays; petition November 15, 2024; entitlement October 24, 2025. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01886-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-01 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/24/2025) regarding 29 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:24-vv-01886-UNJ Document 32 Filed 12/01/25 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1886V REBECCA HEINEMAN, on behalf of her deceased spouse, JENNELL Chief Special Master Corcoran JAQUAYS, Filed: October 24, 2025 Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Nathan Joseph Marchese, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner. Adam Nemeth Muffett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On November 15, 2024, Rebecca Heineman, on behalf of her deceased spouse, Jennell Jaquays, 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 alleged that Jennell Jaquays (“Ms. Jaquays”) suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), a defined Table injury, or in the alternative caused-in-fact injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 9, 2023. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 26-27. Petitioners also alleged that Ms. Jaquays received the vaccine within the United States, that she sadly passed away from her GBS illness on January 10, 2024, and that neither Petitioner nor 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-01886-UNJ Document 32 Filed 12/01/25 Page 2 of 2 any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for Ms. Jaquays’s GBS, alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 28-29. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 24, 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 has concluded “that [P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for GBS following administration of a seasonal flu vaccination.” Id. at 9. Respondent further agrees that “[P]etitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. 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-01886-cl-extra-11211891 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-01 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10745306 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1886V REBECCA HEINEMAN, on behalf of her deceased spouse, JENNELL Chief Special Master Corcoran JAQUAYS, Filed: October 24, 2025 Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Nathan Joseph Marchese, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner. Adam Nemeth Muffett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On November 15, 2024, Rebecca Heineman, on behalf of her deceased spouse, Jennell Jaquays, 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 alleged that Jennell Jaquays (“Ms. Jaquays”) suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), a defined Table injury, or in the alternative caused-in-fact injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 9, 2023. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 26-27. Petitioners also alleged that Ms. Jaquays received the vaccine within the United States, that she sadly passed away from her GBS illness on January 10, 2024, and that neither Petitioner nor 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). any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for Ms. Jaquays’s GBS, alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 28-29. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 24, 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 has concluded “that [P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for GBS following administration of a seasonal flu vaccination.” Id. at 9. Respondent further agrees that “[P]etitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. 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