Johnnie Evans, Sr. v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2017)

Johnnie Evans, Jr., as the legal representative of the estate of Johnnie Evans, Sr., filed a petition on February 18, 2016, seeking compensation for the death of his father. The petition alleged that Johnnie Evans, Sr. received an influenza ("flu") vaccine on October 10, 2014, and that this vaccine caused him to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and ultimately led to his death on February 10, 2015.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused the alleged GBS or the death. The parties, petitioner represented by Ronald C.

Homer of Conway, Homer, P.C., and respondent represented by Adriana R. Teitel of the United States Department of Justice, reached a joint stipulation to settle the case.

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

The stipulation awarded a lump sum payment of $310,000.00, payable to Johnnie Evans, Jr., as the legal representative of the estate of Johnnie Evans, Sr. This amount was intended to compensate for all damages available under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

The decision and stipulation were filed on July 28, 2017. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, or treatments related to the alleged GBS, nor does it name any medical experts or detail the specific mechanism of causation.