VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00546
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00546
Petitioner: Gayane Diana Karapetian
Filed: 2019-04-12
Decided: 2021-03-24
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2018-01-26
Condition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 40400

AI-assisted case summary:
Gayane Diana Karapetian filed a petition for compensation on April 12, 2019, alleging that the Tetanus, Diphtheria, acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on January 26, 2018, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused Ms. Karapetian's GBS or any other injury. The parties, represented by counsel Amy Senerth of Muller Brazil, LLP for the petitioner and Mollie Gorney of the United States Department of Justice for the respondent, reached a joint stipulation agreeing to compensation. Special Master Christian J. Moran reviewed the stipulation. The public decision does not describe the specific onset, symptoms, medical tests, or treatments related to Ms. Karapetian's condition. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the court. Ms. Karapetian was awarded a lump sum payment of $40,400.00, representing compensation for all damages available under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The case proceeded as a Table claim, as GBS is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for the Tdap vaccine. The public decision does not name any medical experts or detail the specific mechanism of causation alleged.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Gayane Diana Karapetian alleged that the Tdap vaccine received on January 26, 2018, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). GBS is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for the Tdap vaccine, indicating a potential "Table" claim. The respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation, which was adopted by Special Master Christian J. Moran. The stipulation included a lump sum award of $40,400.00. The public decision does not detail the specific medical evidence, expert testimony, or the precise mechanism of causation relied upon for the stipulation, other than GBS being a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for the Tdap vaccine. Petitioner counsel was Amy Senerth, and respondent counsel was Mollie Gorney. The decision was filed on March 2, 2021, and the award was issued on March 24, 2021.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00546-0
Date issued/filed: 2021-03-24
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/2/2021) regarding 45 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (Attachments: # (1) Appendix Joint Stipulation) (jmw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:19-vv-00546-UNJ Document 49 Filed 03/24/21 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
GAYANE DIANA KARAPETIAN, *
* No. 19-546V
Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran
*
v. * Filed: March 2, 2021
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation; Tetanus, Diphtheria,
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”)
* vaccine; Guillain-Barré Syndrome
* (“GBS”).
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amy Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner;
Mollie Gorney, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
UNPUBLISHED DECISION1
On March 2, 2021, the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition
for compensation filed by Gayane Karapetian on April 12, 2019. Petitioner alleged
that the Tetanus, Diphtheria, acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine she received on
January 26, 2018, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42
C.F.R. §100.3(a), caused her to suffer from Guillain- Barré Syndrome (“GBS”).
Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil
action for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition.
Respondent denies that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner to suffer from
GBS or any other injury.
1 The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.

Case 1:19-vv-00546-UNJ Document 49 Filed 03/24/21 Page 2 of 2
Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto. The
undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the
Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Damages awarded in that stipulation include:
A lump sum payment of $40,400.00 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached
stipulation.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master
2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each
party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal
Claims judge.
2