VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00047
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00047
Petitioner: Williard First
Filed: 2016-01-22
Decided: 2016-05-04
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-09-27
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 200000

AI-assisted case summary:
Williard First filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 22, 2016, alleging he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 27, 2013. Mr. First stated that he received the vaccination in the United States, that the effects of his injury lasted more than six months, and that he had not received prior compensation for his injury. Respondent denied that the influenza vaccine caused GBS or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on January 21, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The Chief Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Mr. First was awarded a lump sum of $200,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. The decision directed the clerk of the court to enter judgment accordingly.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00047-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-05-04
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/22/2016) regarding 28 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-00047-UNJ Document 38 Filed 05/04/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-47V
Filed: January 22, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WILLARD FIRST, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
* Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lawrence Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Ann Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On January 20, 2015, Williard First (“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 he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome
(“GBS”) after receiving the influenza vaccine on September 27, 2013. Petition at 1; see
also Stipulation, filed Jan. 21, 2016, ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that he received the
vaccination in the United States, that he has suffered the effects of his injury for more
than six month, and that he has not received compensation for his vaccine related
injury. Petition, ¶¶ 5, 25-26; see also Stipulation ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that
petitioner’s influenza vaccine caused GBS or any other injury.” Stipulation, ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on January 21, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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 1:15-vv-00047-UNJ Document 38 Filed 05/04/16 Page 2 of 7
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulated that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
A lump sum of $200,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Stipulation, ¶ 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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