VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00526
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00526
Petitioner: Lee Liggett
Filed: 2016-12-16
Decided: 2017-04-25
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2012-11-13
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 180000

AI-assisted case summary:
Lee Liggett filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on November 13, 2012. Mr. Liggett stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that he experienced residual effects of his injury for more than six months, and that he had not received any prior award or settlement for damages related to his condition. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Liggett's GBS or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on December 16, 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. Liggett was awarded a lump sum of $180,000.00, representing compensation for all damages available under the Vaccine Act for injuries allegedly related to his receipt of the influenza vaccine. The decision was finalized on April 25, 2017.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00526-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-04-25
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/16/2016) regarding 36 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-00526-UNJ Document 40 Filed 04/25/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-0526V
Filed: December 16, 2016
Unpublished
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LEE LIGGETT, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Guillain-Barré
* Syndrome (“GBS”); Special Processing
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Danielle A. Strait, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Althea W. Davis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On May 22, 2015, Lee Liggett (“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”) as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 13, 2012.3
Pet. at 1; Stip., filed Dec. 16, 2016, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Petitioner further states that the
vaccine was administered in the United States, that he experienced the residual effects
of his injury 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 his condition. Pet. at ¶¶ 1, 7, 9,
10; Stip. at ¶¶ 3-5. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s GBS or
any other injury or his current condition. Stip. 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).
3 Petitioner also received a Zostavax vaccine, which is not covered under the Vaccine Program.

Case 1:15-vv-00526-UNJ Document 40 Filed 04/25/17 Page 2 of 7
Nevertheless, on December 16, 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 $180,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Lee
Liggett. Stip. at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) for injuries allegedly related to
petitioner’s receipt of the influenza vaccine. 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.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
4 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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