Shirley F. Crookshanks v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2016)

Shirley F. Crookshanks filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 13, 2016.

She alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving a trivalent influenza vaccine on October 26, 2012, and/or a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on October 28, 2012. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccinations caused petitioner's GBS or any other injury.

Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on damages on January 13, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

Shirley F. Crookshanks was awarded a lump sum of $235,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The decision was based on this joint stipulation. Petitioner's counsel was Elizabeth Muldowney of Rawls, McNelis, and Mitchell, P.C., and respondent's counsel was Justine Walters of the U.S.

Department of Justice.