Bruce Tuthill v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) (2016)

Bruce Tuthill filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on August 3, 2015. He alleged that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused in fact by the influenza vaccine he received on October 1, 2014.

Mr. Tuthill further alleged that he has suffered the effects of his injury for more than six months and has not filed a civil suit or received other compensation for his vaccine-caused injury.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's GBS or any other injury. Nevertheless, on September 1, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation.

Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Bruce Tuthill was awarded a lump sum of $70,000.00, payable to him, as compensation for all items of damages available under § 15(a).

Maximillian Muller of Muller Brazil, LLP, represented the petitioner, and Althea Davis of the U.S. Department of Justice represented the respondent.

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