West v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-189V

SALLIE WEST as personal Chief Special Master Corcoran representative of ESTATE OF JAMES WEST, JR., Filed: June 10, 2026

Petitioner, v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Dana G. Kirk, Kirk Law Firm, PLLC, Houston, TX, for Petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

On January 31, 2025, Sallie West (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation on behalf of her deceased husband under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that Mr. West suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 8, 2022. Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner further alleges that Mr. West died as a result of his GBS. Id. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

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). On June 5, 2026, 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, ECF No. 32. Specifically, Respondent indicated that Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for GBS following the intramuscular administration of a seasonal flu vaccination and that Mr. West’s death was more likely than not related to his GBS, thus satisfying the Act’s severity requirement. Id. at 5 (citing 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(XIV)(D); 42 C.F.R. §100.3(c)(15)). Respondent does not dispute that Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine 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