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

Stephen Wallen filed a petition on January 13, 2015, alleging that he suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused by a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine he received on July 5, 2011. He further alleged that he experienced residual effects of the injury for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr. Wallen's GBS or any other injury.

Despite the respondent's denial, the parties reached a stipulation to resolve the case. Special Master Laura D.

Millman adopted the stipulation, awarding Mr. Wallen $100,000.00 as compensation for all damages.

The award was to be in the form of a check for $100,000.00 made payable to the petitioner. Subsequently, on February 9, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation regarding attorneys' fees and costs.

Mr. Wallen requested $21,950.00, which the respondent did not object to.

Special Master Millman found this amount to be reasonable and awarded it, payable jointly to Mr. Wallen and his attorneys, Maglio, Christopher, & Toale, P.A.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.