Ralph Mueller v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Ralph Mueller filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 25, 2017. He alleged that the influenza vaccine he received on October 31, 2014, and the Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine he received on December 2, 2014, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
The parties, Petitioner Ralph Mueller and Respondent Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a stipulation for award on July 26, 2019. In the stipulation, Respondent denied that the vaccines caused Petitioner's alleged GBS or any other injury.
However, the parties agreed to a joint stipulation for compensation. Special Master Herbrina Sanders reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court.
Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $90,000.00, payable to him, as compensation for all damages. The decision was issued on July 30, 2019.
Ronald C. Homer represented the Petitioner, and Robert P.
Coleman, III represented the Respondent. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Ralph Mueller alleged that the influenza vaccine administered on October 31, 2014, and the Tdap vaccine administered on December 2, 2014, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a stipulation for award, agreeing to a lump sum payment of $90,000.00 to Petitioner for all damages. Special Master Herbrina Sanders approved the stipulation as reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccines allegedly caused GBS. The award was made pursuant to a stipulation, not a finding of causation on the merits. The decision date was July 30, 2019. Petitioner was represented by Ronald C. Homer, and Respondent by Robert P. Coleman, III.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01318