George Easton v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2017)

George Easton filed a petition on August 26, 2016, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving a tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on October 2, 2015. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr.

Easton's GBS or any other injury. Despite this denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for damages.

Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court.

The stipulation provided for a lump sum payment of $140,000.00, payable to Mr. Easton, as compensation for all damages available under the program.

The decision was based on this joint stipulation and did not require a full adjudication of causation. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Mr. Easton was an adult at the time of vaccination.

Petitioner counsel was Lawrence R. Cohan of Anapol Weiss, and respondent counsel was Ilene C.

Albala of the United States Department of Justice. The decision was issued on April 6, 2017.