Glendella May v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2018)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Glendella May filed a petition for compensation on January 18, 2017, alleging that the influenza vaccine she received on November 26, 2014, caused her to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and its residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused GBS.
The parties, represented by John Grimm for the petitioner and Althea Davis for the respondent, filed a joint stipulation agreeing to compensation. Special Master Christian J.
Moran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Glendella May was awarded a lump sum payment of $80,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, as compensation for all damages.
Judgment was to be entered according to this decision and the stipulation, unless a motion for review was filed. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Glendella May alleged that the influenza vaccine administered on November 26, 2014, caused Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and residual effects lasting over six months. The influenza vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation for compensation. The Special Master adopted the stipulation, awarding $80,000.00 as a lump sum for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific mechanism of causation, expert testimony, or clinical evidence presented. The theory of causation relies on the vaccine being listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, which presumes causation for GBS within specific timeframes. Attorneys involved were John Grimm for the petitioner and Althea Davis for the respondent. Special Master Christian J. Moran issued the decision on February 22, 2018.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00081