Gerald Sather v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”) (2017)

Gerald Sather filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on August 15, 2016, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 7, 2014. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused petitioner's GBS.

The parties, however, reached a joint stipulation for damages. Special Master Thomas L.

Gowen reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded Gerald Sather a lump sum of $215,000.00, payable by check to petitioner, as compensation for all damages available under the program.

This amount represents a compromise of the parties' respective positions on liability and/or damages. The decision was entered on May 10, 2017.

Petitioner was represented by Howard Scott Gold of Gold Law Firm, LLC, and respondent was represented by Ann Donohue Martin of the United States Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.