VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00483
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00483
Petitioner: Lavern Griffis
Filed: 2015-05-11
Decided: 2017-01-06
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-10-10
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, and urinary retention and kidney failure
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 200000

AI-assisted case summary:
On May 11, 2015, Lavern Griffis filed a petition in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 10, 2013, caused her to suffer Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, urinary retention, and kidney failure. Ms. Griffis died on May 7, 2015, and Micolous Griffis, as the personal representative of her estate, was substituted as the petitioner. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Griffis's alleged injuries or death. The parties subsequently filed a joint stipulation for damages. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court. The stipulation provided for a lump sum award of $200,000.00, payable to Micolous Griffis as the legal representative of Lavern Griffis's estate, as compensation for all damages. The decision was issued on January 6, 2017. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. The names of petitioner's counsel were Paul R. Brazil and Muller Brazil, LLP, and respondent's counsel was Douglas Ross from the United States Department of Justice.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 10, 2013, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, urinary retention, and kidney failure, leading to the death of Lavern Griffis on May 7, 2015. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation for damages, which was adopted by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. The stipulation resulted in an award of $200,000.00 to the estate of Lavern Griffis. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injuries or death.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00483-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-01-06
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/07/2016) regarding 58 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-00483-UNJ Document 63 Filed 01/06/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-483V
Filed: December 7, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
MICOLOUS GRIFFIS, personal *
representative of the Estate of LAVERN *
GRIFFIS, deceased, *
*
Petitioner, * Special Master Gowen
*
v. * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Transvers Myelitis; Kidney
* Failure; Death
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Douglas Ross, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On May 11, 2015, Lavern Griffis filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Upon Ms. Griffis’ death,
Micolous Griffis (“petitioner”) was substituted as petitioner and personal representative of Ms.
Griffis’ estate. Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
October 10, 2013, Ms. Griffis suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), transverse myelitis,
and urinary retention and kidney failure, and that she subsequently died on May 7, 2015, as a
result of her alleged vaccine-related injury. Stipulation at ¶ 4.
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14
days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade
secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b).
2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood
Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§
300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the
Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
1

Case 1:15-vv-00483-UNJ Document 63 Filed 01/06/17 Page 2 of 7
On December 7, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Ms.
Griffis’ alleged GBS, TM, or any other injury or condition, or her death. Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. 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 in compensation:
a. A lump sum of $200,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Micolous
Griffis, as legal representative of the estate of Lavern Griffis. This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(a).
Id. at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms
of the parties’ stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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