Raymond Howell v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2018)

Raymond Howell, through his personal representative Erika Boyer, filed a petition on July 15, 2016, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on December 16, 2014, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The petition stated that Mr.

Howell suffered residual effects of the GBS for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused Mr.

Howell's GBS or any other injury or death. Mr.

Howell passed away on July 14, 2017, from coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hydrocephalus; his death was not attributed to the vaccine injury. The parties reached a joint stipulation, which Special Master Christian J.

Moran found reasonable and adopted as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded Mr.

Howell's estate a lump sum payment of $10,000.00, payable to Erika Boyer as the legal representative of the Estate of Raymond Howell. This amount was intended as compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

The petition was filed on July 15, 2016, and the stipulation was filed on December 13, 2018. The decision was issued on December 18, 2018.

Petitioner counsel was Howard S. Gold of Gold Law Firm, LLC, and respondent counsel was Althea W.

Davis of the United States Department of Justice.