Brandy Humphries v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2015)

Brandy Humphries filed a petition on February 13, 2015, alleging that she developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused by a Tdap vaccine she received on June 9, 2011. She further alleged that she suffered residual effects from the GBS for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused or aggravated her GBS, and also denied that she experienced symptoms for more than six months. The parties reached a stipulation to resolve the case.

Special Master Laura D. Millman adopted the stipulation, awarding Brandy Humphries a lump sum of $120,000.00, payable to her.

Additionally, $7,238.36 was awarded to reimburse a Medicaid lien, payable jointly to Ms. Humphries and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

This award represented compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Subsequently, on July 29, 2015, the parties filed a separate stipulation regarding attorneys' fees and costs.

Following informal discussions where the respondent raised objections to certain items in the petitioner's initial application, the petitioner amended her application to $27,500.00. The respondent did not object to this revised amount.

Special Master Millman found the amount reasonable and awarded $27,500.00 for attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to Brandy Humphries and her attorney, Howie Law, P.C. The total compensation awarded in this case was $147,238.36.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. Petitioner was represented by John R.

Howie, Jr., and respondent was represented by Darryl R. Wishard.