Teneisha C. Davis v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (2022)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On November 15, 2018, Teneisha C. Davis filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 16, 2017, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner to suffer GBS or any other injury or her current condition. Despite this denial, the parties reached a stipulation for an award of compensation.
Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey reviewed the stipulation. The court adopted the stipulation, awarding Ms.
Davis a total of $417,265.15. This amount includes compensation for first-year life care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses, payable to Petitioner.
An additional amount was allocated for an annuity contract, paid to a life insurance company. The parties agreed to this stipulation, and judgment was entered accordingly.
Petitioner was represented by Jimmy A. Zgheib of Zgheib Sayad, P.C., and Respondent was represented by Christine M.
Becer of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Teneisha C. Davis alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 16, 2017, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a stipulation for compensation, which Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey adopted. The award included a lump sum of $417,265.15 for first-year life care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses, plus an amount for an annuity contract. The public decision does not describe the specific medical theory of causation, expert testimony, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the GBS. Petitioner was represented by Jimmy A. Zgheib, and Respondent was represented by Christine M. Becer. The decision date was June 1, 2022.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01763