Heather Lavayen v. HHS - DTaP, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (2017)

Heather Lavayen filed a petition on October 26, 2015, on behalf of her minor daughter, G.R.C. The petition alleged that the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) and meningococcal (MCV) vaccines, administered on August 5, 2014, caused G.R.C. to develop chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), with residual effects lasting more than six months.

The respondent denied that the vaccines caused the alleged condition. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation.

Special Master Christian J. Moran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

The award included a lump sum of $6,000.00 for past unreimbursable expenses, payable to Heather Lavayen. An additional lump sum of $50,000.00 was awarded, payable to Heather Lavayen as guardian/conservator of G.R.C.'s estate.

The decision also included an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract, as described in the stipulation. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details of G.R.C.'s condition, any diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received.

No specific medical experts were named in the public decision. The case was compensated based on the joint stipulation.