M. M. v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinated polyneuropathy (CIDP) (2021)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On January 17, 2017, M. M. filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinated polyneuropathy (CIDP) as a result of receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on August 5, 2015.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused or significantly aggravated petitioner's alleged injuries or her current condition. Despite maintaining their respective positions on causation, the parties entered into a stipulation to settle the case.
The stipulation provided for a lump sum award of $110,000.00 to compensate M. M. for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) for injuries allegedly related to the Tdap vaccine.
Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the parties' stipulation and ordered judgment to be entered accordingly.
The decision on the stipulation was issued on November 24, 2021. Petitioner was represented by Amber D.
Wilson of Wilson Science Law, and respondent was represented by Wei K. Tai of the U.S.
Department of Justice. In a separate decision dated February 6, 2019, Special Master Gowen granted petitioner's motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs, awarding $20,750.00 for expert costs incurred, noting that the case had been pending since 2015 and involved three expert reports from two experts, Dr.
Allen and Dr. Akbari.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, or treatments.