Sarah Elizabeth Reichard v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2016)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Sarah Elizabeth Reichard filed a petition for vaccine compensation on September 25, 2014, alleging that the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on August 2, 2013, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table.
Respondent denied that the vaccine caused Ms. Reichard's GBS or any other injury.
Despite this denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case. The stipulation awarded Ms.
Reichard a lump sum of $85,000.00 for all damages available under the program. Additionally, a lump sum of $18,035.43 was awarded for attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to petitioner and her attorney, Kelly D.
Burdette of Burkett & Burdette. The decision adopting this stipulation was filed on March 30, 2016, by Special Master Christian J.
Moran. The case was resolved through a settlement, with the court adopting the parties' agreement on compensation.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, or treatments. The specific mechanism of causation was not detailed in the public decision, but the Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Sarah Elizabeth Reichard received a Tdap vaccination on August 2, 2013, and subsequently filed a petition for vaccine compensation on September 25, 2014, alleging Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused by the vaccine. The Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Respondent denied that the Tdap vaccination caused petitioner's GBS or any other injury. The parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case, agreeing to an award of $85,000.00 for all damages and $18,035.43 for attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Christian J. Moran adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court on March 30, 2016. The public decision does not detail the specific medical experts, clinical findings, or the precise mechanism of causation, but notes the Tdap vaccine is a "Table" vaccine for GBS.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00904