VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00493
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00493
Petitioner: Robert Hearn
Filed: 2017-01-12
Decided: 2017-06-14
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-09-08
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 205000

AI-assisted case summary:
Robert Hearn filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 12, 2017, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) caused by his September 8, 2013 influenza vaccination. He further alleged that he experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months. The respondent denied that the flu immunization caused his alleged GBS, CIDP, or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on damages on January 11, 2017, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Robert Hearn was awarded a lump sum of $205,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. The decision was based on this joint stipulation. Petitioner counsel was Isaiah Richard Kalinowski of Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, and respondent counsel was Ryan Daniel Pyles of the U.S. Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Robert Hearn alleged that his September 8, 2013 influenza vaccination caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), with residual effects lasting more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation on damages, agreeing to an award. The Special Master adopted the stipulation. Petitioner was awarded $205,000.00. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00493-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-06-14
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/12/2017) regarding 31 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:16-vv-00493-UNJ Document 42 Filed 06/14/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-493V
Filed: January 12, 2017
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ROBERT HEARN, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza;
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Polyneuropathy; CIDP;
* Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On April 20, 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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) and/or
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) caused by his September
8, 2013 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1-3; Stipulation, filed January 11, 2017, at ¶ 4.
Petitioner further alleges that he experienced residual effects of this injury 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 4; Stipulation at ¶¶ 4-5. “Respondent
denies that the flu immunization is the cause of petitioner’s alleged GBS, CIDP, and/or
any other injury. ” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
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-00493-UNJ Document 42 Filed 06/14/17 Page 2 of 7
Nevertheless, on January 11, 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 $205,000.00 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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