Ronald Wagner v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2019)

Ronald Wagner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 22, 2017. He alleged that he suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine he received on November 23, 2015, and that he experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu immunization caused petitioner's alleged GBS or any other injury. On January 23, 2019, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Ronald Wagner was awarded a lump sum of $70,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the program.

The decision directed the clerk of the court to enter judgment in accordance with the stipulation. Petitioner was represented by Michael G.

McLaren of Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., and respondent was represented by Ryan Daniel Pyles of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The public decision does not describe the onset, specific symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.