Douglas T. Lester v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre syndrome (2019)

Douglas T. Lester filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 8, 2017, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccination administered on October 7, 2015.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report stating that they did not contest petitioner's entitlement to compensation. The respondent acknowledged that the petitioner satisfied the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table, noting that the evidence showed GBS onset within the Table-specified time period following the flu vaccine.

Based on the respondent's position and the evidence of record, Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the petitioner entitled to compensation on October 23, 2017. Subsequently, on February 13, 2019, the parties filed a joint stipulation on damages.

Chief Special Master Dorsey reviewed and adopted the stipulation, awarding Douglas T. Lester a lump sum of $200,000.00, payable to the petitioner.

This amount represents compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. Petitioner was represented by Nancy Routh Meyers of Ward Black Law, and respondent was represented by Douglas Ross and later Glenn Alexander MacLeod of the U.S.

Department of Justice.