Judy Becker v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2015)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Judy Becker filed a petition on April 29, 2014, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on or about August 1, 2011. She further alleged that she experienced residual effects of her injury for more than six months.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccination caused her GBS or any other injury. Nevertheless, on November 10, 2015, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to an award of compensation.
Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding Judy Becker a lump sum of $525,000.00 for all damages.
Subsequently, on December 16, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation for attorneys' fees and costs, requesting $48,994.35, which Special Master Gowen also approved. Judgment was entered in accordance with these stipulations.
Petitioner was represented by Amber D. Wilson of Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, and respondent was represented by Lara A.
Englund of the United States Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Judy Becker filed a petition alleging that a Tdap vaccine administered on or about August 1, 2011, caused her Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation, agreeing to an award of $525,000.00 for all damages. A subsequent stipulation addressed attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $48,994.35, which was also approved. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted both stipulations. The public decision does not detail the specific medical experts, clinical findings, onset, symptoms, treatments, or the precise mechanism of causation relied upon for the stipulation. Petitioner was represented by Amber D. Wilson, and respondent by Lara A. Englund.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00363