ZT v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) (2015)

Vanya Taylor, on behalf of her minor son ZT, filed a petition for compensation on February 24, 2014. She alleged that the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, which ZT received on July 25, 2011, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

The Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused ZT's GBS.

The parties subsequently reached a stipulation for compensation, which Special Master Christian J. Moran adopted as the decision of the Court on December 29, 2014.

Under the stipulation, the Secretary agreed to purchase an annuity contract for ZT's benefit from the Life Insurance Company. This contract provides for annual payments of $14,084.55 for ten years, beginning April 28, 2016.

The public decision does not describe ZT's onset, symptoms, medical tests, or treatments. The public decision also does not name any medical experts or detail the specific mechanism of causation.

On March 27, 2015, the parties filed a separate stipulation regarding attorneys' fees and costs. Petitioner's counsel, Roger Johnson of Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci, initially sought $18,466.08.

After discussions, respondent did not object to this amount. Special Master Christian J.

Moran awarded the full $18,466.08 for attorneys' fees and costs, payable as a lump sum to both Vanya Taylor and her attorney, Roger A. Johnson.

The case was resolved through these stipulations, with ZT receiving compensation for his GBS and associated legal costs.