VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01167
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01167
Petitioner: Rene Bridges
Filed: 2014-12-04
Decided: 2017-04-25
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2011-12-12
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 300000

AI-assisted case summary:
Rene Bridges filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccination received on December 12, 2011. The petition stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that Ms. Bridges experienced residual effects for more than six months, and that no prior settlement or award had been made for this injury. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Bridges' GBS or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on damages, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Ms. Bridges was awarded a lump sum of $300,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. The decision was entered on April 25, 2017.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01167-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-04-25
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/13/2016) regarding 49 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-01167-UNJ Document 55 Filed 04/25/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-1167V
Filed: December 13, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
RENE BRIDGES, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination;
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, & Chin-Caplan, P.C., for petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On December 4, 2014, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as
a result of her influenza vaccination on December 12, 2011. Petition at 1; Stipulation,
filed December 9, 2016, at ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was
administered in the United States, that she experienced the residual effects of her
condition for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or
settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of her injury. Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5;
Petition at ¶¶ 5-6. “Respondent denies that petitioner’s alleged GBS and residual
effects were caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine. Respondent further denies that the flu
vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or her current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:14-vv-01167-UNJ Document 55 Filed 04/25/17 Page 2 of 7
Nevertheless, on December 9, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The
undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court
in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
A lump sum of $300,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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