Douglas A. Dinunzio v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2016)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Douglas A. Dinunzio filed a petition on November 25, 2014, alleging that the seasonal influenza vaccine he received on January 25, 2014, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and experience residual effects for more than six months.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused Mr. Dinunzio's condition.
Despite the denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for compensation. The Special Master, Christian J.
Moran, reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded Mr.
Dinunzio a lump sum of $498,000.00, payable by check, to compensate for all damages available under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. The decision adopting the stipulation was issued on April 26, 2016.
Petitioner counsel was Nancy R. Meyers of Ward Black Law, and respondent counsel was Julia W.
McInerny of the United States Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses involved in this case.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Douglas A. Dinunzio alleged that the influenza vaccine received on January 25, 2014, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Petitioner claimed residual effects for more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties entered into a joint stipulation for compensation, which was approved by Special Master Christian J. Moran on April 26, 2016. The stipulation resulted in a lump sum award of $498,000.00 to Petitioner. The public decision does not detail the specific mechanism of causation, expert testimony, or clinical findings beyond the alleged GBS diagnosis and its duration. Petitioner counsel was Nancy R. Meyers, and respondent counsel was Julia W. McInerny.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01151