Ellen Honea v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Ellen Honea filed a petition for compensation on August 31, 2017, alleging that the influenza vaccine she received on November 4, 2015, caused her to suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused her GBS.
However, on March 18, 2019, the parties filed a joint stipulation for award. Special Master Herbrina Sanders found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.
Ellen Honea was awarded a lump sum of $125,000.00 as compensation for all damages. The parties agreed to this stipulation, and judgment was entered accordingly.
Petitioner was represented by Jeffrey S. Pop of Jeffrey S.
Pop & Associates, and Respondent was represented by Justine E. Walters of the United States Department of Justice.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical findings, or treatments.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Ellen Honea alleged that the influenza vaccine administered on November 4, 2015, caused her Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for award, agreeing to a lump sum of $125,000.00 for all damages. The Special Master adopted the stipulation. The public decision does not specify the theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the GBS. The award was based on a stipulation, not a finding of fact or law on causation.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01180