VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00365
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00365
Petitioner: Stephen Knowles
Filed: 2016-03-21
Decided: 2016-09-26
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2015-09-17
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 495000

AI-assisted case summary:
On March 21, 2016, Stephen Knowles filed a Vaccine Program petition after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 17, 2015. He alleged that the flu shot was followed by Guillain-Barre Syndrome and that the residual effects lasted more than six months.

The public decision was entered on a joint stipulation and does not provide a hospitalization, testing, treatment, or rehabilitation timeline. It does show that Knowles attributed GBS to the September 2015 influenza vaccination, while respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused any injury.

The parties filed a joint stipulation on September 21, 2016. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found it reasonable and adopted it on September 26, 2016. Knowles was awarded a lump sum of $495,000.00, payable to him, representing all damages available under section 15(a). He was represented by Renee J. Gentry of the Vaccine Injury Clinic at George Washington University Law School.

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine (September 17, 2015) alleged to cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome with residual effects more than six months. COMPENSATED by joint stipulation. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused any injury; public stipulation contains limited clinical facts despite large award. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey adopted the stipulation on September 26, 2016. Award: $495,000.00 lump sum payable to Stephen Knowles for all section 15(a) damages. Attorney: Renee J. Gentry, Vaccine Injury Clinic, George Washington University Law School.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00365-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-12-01
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/26/2016) regarding 24 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:16-vv-00365-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/01/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-365V
Filed: September 26, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN KNOWLES, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza;
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome; GBS;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Renee J. Gentry, Vaccine Injury Clinic, George Washington University Law School, for
petitioner.
Gordon Elliot Shemin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On March 21, 2016, petitioner 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 alleges that he suffered Gullain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”)
following receipt of his September 17, 2015 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1;
Stipulation, filed September 21, 2016, at ¶ 4. Petitioner further alleges that he
experienced residual effects of his GBS for more than six months and that there has
been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages as a result of his
condition. Petition at 3; Stipulation at ¶¶ 4-5. “Respondent denies that the flu vaccine
caused any injury to petitioner. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on September 21, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The
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-00365-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/01/16 Page 2 of 7
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 $495,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.
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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