Michael Opperman v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2016)

Michael Opperman filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on December 22, 2014. He alleged that he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of his December 27, 2011 influenza vaccination and his January 24, 2012 tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination.

Mr. Opperman further alleged that he experienced residual effects from the injury for more than six months and had received no prior compensation.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused petitioner's alleged GBS or any other injury. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages on May 2, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

The Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Michael Opperman was awarded a lump sum of $100,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The decision was issued by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. Petitioner's counsel was Jerome A.

Konkel of Samster, Konkel & Safran, SC, and respondent's counsel was Jennifer Leigh Reynaud of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.