VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00239
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00239
Petitioner: Ronald M. Allen
Filed: 2017-01-13
Decided: 2017-06-14
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2015-09-28
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 418000

AI-assisted case summary:
Mary Sue Allen, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Ronald M. Allen, filed a petition on January 13, 2017, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Ronald M. Allen's death on October 23, 2015, was a result of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused by an influenza vaccine he received on September 28, 2015. Mr. Allen received the vaccination in the United States. Petitioner stated that no prior civil action for damages had been filed on Mr. Allen's behalf for his alleged injury and death. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Allen to suffer GBS or any other injury, and further denied that his death was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation on January 13, 2017. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation to be reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded the petitioner a lump sum of $418,000.00, payable to Mary Sue Allen as Legal Representative of the Estate of Ronald M. Allen, representing compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. Petitioner was represented by Leah V. Durant of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, and respondent was represented by Lara A. Englund of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that the influenza vaccine administered on September 28, 2015, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), which subsequently led to the death of Ronald M. Allen on October 23, 2015. Respondent denied the alleged vaccine causation. The case was resolved via a joint stipulation for compensation, with the parties agreeing to an award without a detailed factual or medical basis presented in the public decision. The public text does not specify the theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused GBS and death. The award was a lump sum of $418,000.00. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey approved the stipulation on June 14, 2017. Petitioner counsel was Leah V. Durant, and respondent counsel was Lara A. Englund.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00239-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-06-14
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/13/2017) regarding 30 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:16-vv-00239-UNJ Document 34 Filed 06/14/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-0239V
Filed: January 13, 2017
Unpublished
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MARY SUE ALLEN, as Personal *
Representative of the Estate of *
RONALD M. ALLEN, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
* Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Death; Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”)
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leah V. Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Lara A. Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On February 17, 2016, Mary Sue Allen, as Personal Representative of the Estate
of Ronald M. Allen, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner
claims that Mr. Allen’s death on October 23, 2015, was the sequela of Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”) caused by the influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on September
28, 2015. Pet. at 1; Stip., filed Jan. 13, 2017, at ¶¶ 1, 2, 4. Mr. Allen received the
vaccination in the United States. Pet. at ¶3; Stip. at ¶3. Petitioner represents that there
has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on Mr. Allen’s behalf
as a result of his alleged injury and death. Pet. at ¶¶ 15-16; Stip. at ¶ 5. Respondent
denies that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Allen to suffer GBS or any other injury and further
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:16-vv-00239-UNJ Document 34 Filed 06/14/17 Page 2 of 7
denies that Mr. Allen’s death on October 23, 2015, was a sequela of a vaccine-related
injury. Stip. at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on January 13, 2017, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation,
stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The undersigned
finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding
damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
A lump sum of $418,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner,
Mary Sue Allen, as Legal Representative of the Estate of Ronald M. Allen,
representing compensation for all damages that would be available under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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