Amy Dunlap v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2017)

Amy Dunlap filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on June 13, 2016, alleging she suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following an influenza vaccination on October 7, 2014. The petition stated the vaccination was administered in the United States, that Ms.

Dunlap suffered residual effects for more than six months, and that there had been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms.

Dunlap's alleged GBS or any other injury, and denied that her current disabilities were sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages on April 26, 2017.

Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded Ms.

Dunlap compensation in the form of a lump sum of $174,795.44, payable to her, representing all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. The court approved this amount, and judgment was to be entered accordingly.

Petitioner's counsel was Lawrence Cohan of Anapol Weiss, and respondent's counsel was Lisa Watts of the U.S. Department of Justice.