Sandra Phillips v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) (2017)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Sandra Phillips filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on November 13, 2015. She alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 4, 2013.
Ms. Phillips stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that she experienced residual effects for more than six months, and that there had been no prior award or settlement for her condition.
The respondent denied that the vaccine caused her alleged injury and residual effects. The parties, represented by Lawrence R.
Cohan for the petitioner and Voris E. Johnson for the respondent, filed a joint stipulation on December 16, 2016.
Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey adopted the stipulation, awarding Sandra Phillips a lump sum of $195,000.00 for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. This decision was entered on April 25, 2017.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Sandra Phillips alleged that she suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 4, 2013. The respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to a settlement. The stipulation stated that the influenza vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table. The public decision does not describe the specific medical or scientific reasoning for the causation theory, nor does it name any experts. The parties agreed to a lump sum award of $195,000.00 for all damages. The decision was entered on April 25, 2017, by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. Petitioner's counsel was Lawrence R. Cohan, and respondent's counsel was Voris E. Johnson.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01374