George Easton v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2017)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
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 May 3, 2017.
Theory of causation
George Easton filed a petition alleging Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following a Tdap vaccination on October 2, 2015. The respondent denied causation. The parties entered into a joint stipulation for damages, which was adopted by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. The stipulation awarded petitioner $140,000.00 as compensation for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury, as the case was resolved via stipulation. The decision date was May 3, 2017. Petitioner counsel was Lawrence R. Cohan, and respondent counsel was Ilene C. Albala.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01069