Debra Baker v. HHS - Tdap, Bell's palsy and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2018)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Debra Baker filed a petition on March 24, 2016, alleging she developed Bell's palsy and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination on or about July 14, 2015. The respondent denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Ms.
Baker's alleged injuries. The parties reached a settlement, and the court adopted their joint stipulation.
Ms. Baker was awarded a total of $440,914.00.
This award included a lump sum of $440,000.00 payable to Ms. Baker for all damages, a lump sum of $9.14 payable jointly to Ms.
Baker and the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services to reimburse a state lien, and a lump sum of $2,800.04 payable jointly to Ms. Baker and Dean Health Plan to reimburse another state lien.
The decision was issued by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth on January 16, 2018.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Debra Baker alleged Bell's palsy and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following a Tdap vaccination on July 14, 2015. Respondent denied causation. The parties stipulated to a settlement. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, onset, symptoms, diagnostic tests, or treatments. The award was $440,000.00 for general damages, plus $9.14 and $2,800.04 for reimbursement of state liens, totaling $440,914.00. The decision was issued by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth on January 16, 2018. Petitioner's counsel was Andrew Krueger, Esq., and respondent's counsel was Robert Coleman III, Esq.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00375