Bruce A. Pederson v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2015)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Bruce A. Pederson filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on August 17, 2015, alleging that an influenza vaccination on October 31, 2011, caused him to suffer from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS).
He further alleged that he experienced residual effects for more than six months and had not received any prior award or settlement for this injury. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's GBS or any other injury.
Despite the denial, the parties reached a settlement. They filed a joint stipulation on August 14, 2015, agreeing to settle the case.
The stipulation included an award of $175,000.00 for all damages and $21,668.68 for attorneys' fees and costs. Chief Special Master Denise Kathryn Vowell adopted the stipulation and awarded compensation in the agreed-upon amounts.
Petitioner was represented by Kate Gerayne Westad of Lommen Abdo Law Firm, and respondent was represented by Julia Wernett McInerny of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Bruce A. Pederson alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 31, 2011, caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle the case, with the respondent agreeing to pay $175,000.00 for all damages and $21,668.68 for attorneys' fees and costs. Chief Special Master Denise Kathryn Vowell adopted the stipulation. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, clinical details of the injury, or the mechanism of injury.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01055