Stephen Kaiser v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2020)

On August 15, 2017, Stephen Kaiser filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Program, alleging that he developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 29, 2015. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused petitioner's alleged injuries.

The parties reached a stipulation for an award, agreeing that the issues between them would be settled. The stipulation provided for a lump sum payment of $30,000.00, payable to the petitioner, to compensate for pain and suffering, past unreimbursable expenses, and past lost earnings.

Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation and awarded compensation accordingly.

The decision was filed on January 9, 2020. Petitioner was represented by John R.

Howie, Jr. of Howie Law, PC, and respondent was represented by Sarah C. Duncan of the U.S.

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