Charles Tuttle v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2016)

On December 3, 2015, Jennifer Hinkley, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Charles Tuttle, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Charles Tuttle suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccination received on October 21, 2013, and that he subsequently died from this vaccine injury.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Charles's alleged GBS, any other injury, or his death. The parties filed a joint stipulation for damages on September 15, 2016.

The Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation stated that petitioner would receive a lump sum of $220,000.00, payable to petitioner as Personal Representative of Charles Tuttle's estate, as compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The decision was finalized on December 1, 2016. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of injury.

Petitioner's counsel was Christiane Derby Williams of Terry, Garmey & Associates. Respondent's counsel was Julia Wernett McInerny of the U.S.

Department of Justice. The Special Master was Nora Beth Dorsey.