Debra Byrd v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2017)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Debra Byrd filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on June 4, 2014, alleging that she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on February 5, 2013. The respondent denied that the vaccination caused her injury.
The parties reached a settlement agreement, and on February 1, 2017, they filed a joint stipulation outlining the terms. The Special Master adopted the stipulation.
Respondent agreed to issue payments totaling $224,000.00. This included a lump sum of $185,000.00 payable to Debra Byrd for all damages, and an additional lump sum of $39,000.00 payable jointly to Debra Byrd and her counsel, Edwin Howard, for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
The decision was issued by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth on February 28, 2017. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert testimony.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Debra Byrd alleged that she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccination received on February 5, 2013. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case. The stipulation was adopted by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth on February 28, 2017. The award included $185,000.00 for damages and $39,000.00 for attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $224,000.00. The public text does not specify the theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00162