Gladys Highfield v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Gladys Highfield filed a petition on February 11, 2019, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. She alleged that she suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine on December 1, 2015, and that she experienced residual effects for more than six months.
The respondent denied that the Tdap vaccine caused her GBS. However, both parties agreed to settle the case through a stipulation filed on February 8, 2019.
Special Master Brian H. Corcoran reviewed the file and adopted the stipulation as the decision.
The stipulation awarded Gladys Highfield a lump sum of $115,000.00, payable by check to Petitioner, as compensation for all damages. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Petitioner was represented by Jeffrey S. Pop of Jeffrey S.
Pop & Associates, and Respondent was represented by Amy P. Kokot of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Gladys Highfield alleged that her December 1, 2015, Tdap vaccination caused Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and residual effects lasting more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation to settle the case, and Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation as the decision. The stipulation awarded Gladys Highfield $115,000.00 as a lump sum for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the Tdap vaccine allegedly caused GBS. The decision date was March 29, 2019. Petitioner's counsel was Jeffrey S. Pop, and Respondent's counsel was Amy P. Kokot.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00883