VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00641
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00641
Petitioner: Steinar Lee
Filed: 2019-04-30
Decided: 2021-10-08
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2017-11-02
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 328155

AI-assisted case summary:
Steinar Lee filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 30, 2019, alleging Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on November 2, 2017. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report on June 12, 2020, conceding that the petitioner was entitled to compensation. The respondent concluded that Steinar Lee suffered the Table injury of GBS following a flu vaccine within the Table time period and that the medical records established that the petitioner suffered the residual effects of her GBS for more than six months, with no preponderance of evidence demonstrating that the condition was due to a factor unrelated to the flu vaccine. On June 23, 2020, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Steinar Lee entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on September 1, 2021, the parties filed a joint proffer on damages. On October 8, 2021, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a decision awarding damages based on this proffer. Steinar Lee, a competent adult, was awarded a lump sum of $328,155.19. This award included $162,000.00 for pain and suffering, $162,192.00 for actual loss of earnings, and $3,963.19 for actual unreimbursable expenses. The case was represented by Jeffrey S. Pop of Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates for the petitioner and Lynn Christina Schlie of the U.S. Department of Justice for the respondent. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, or treatments.

Theory of causation field:
Steinar Lee alleged Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following an influenza vaccine administered on November 2, 2017. The respondent conceded entitlement, agreeing that GBS is a Table injury following a flu vaccine within the Table time period and that the condition was not due to an unrelated factor, with residual effects lasting more than six months. The public text does not name specific medical experts or detail the mechanism of causation beyond the Table injury designation. The case resulted in a ruling on entitlement on June 23, 2020, by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran, and a subsequent award of $328,155.19 on October 8, 2021, based on a joint proffer. The award comprised a lump sum of $162,000.00 for pain and suffering, $162,192.00 for actual loss of earnings, and $3,963.19 for actual unreimbursable expenses. Petitioner was represented by Jeffrey S. Pop and respondent by Lynn Christina Schlie.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00641-0
Date issued/filed: 2020-07-27
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 06/23/2020) regarding 25 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 29 Filed 07/27/20 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 19-641V
UNPUBLISHED
STEINAR LEE, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: June 23, 2020
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Respondent.
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On April 30, 2019, Steinar Lee filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) as
a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 2, 2017. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On June 12, 2020, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes
that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
at 1. Specifically, Respondent concludes that “petitioner suffered the Table injury of
GBS following a flu vaccine within the Table time period.” Id. at 8-9. Respondent
1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). This means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to
the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to
redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of
privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such
material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 29 Filed 07/27/20 Page 2 of 2
further agrees that “ there is not a preponderance of medical evidence demonstrating
that petitioner’s condition was due to a factor unrelated to the flu vaccine” and “the
medical records…establish that petitioner suffered the residual effects of her GBS for
more than six months.” Id. at 9.
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
2

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00641-1
Date issued/filed: 2021-10-08
Pages: 4
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/01/2021) regarding 43 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 47 Filed 10/08/21 Page 1 of 4
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 19-0641V
UNPUBLISHED
STEINAR LEE, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: September 1, 2021
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Special Processing Unit (SPU);
HUMAN SERVICES, Proffer on Damages; Influenza (Flu);
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
Respondent.
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner.
Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On April 30, 2019, Steinar Lee filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine
Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of
an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 2, 2017. Petition at 1. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On June 23, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. ECF No. 25. On September 1, 2021, the parties filed the attached
proffer, which states that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. ECF No.
1 Because this unpublished opinion contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic
Government Services). This means the opinion will be available to anyone with access to the internet.
In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or
other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon
review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public
access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 47 Filed 10/08/21 Page 2 of 4
42. I find the proffer reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the
terms set forth therein.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award the following
compensation:
• A lump sum of $328,155.19 (which amount includes $162,000.00 for
pain and suffering, $162,192.00 for actual loss of earnings, and
$3,963.19 for actual unreimbursable expenses). Proffer at 1.
This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be
available under Section 15(a). Id.
The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 47 Filed 10/08/21 Page 3 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
)
STEINAR LEE, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 19-641V
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )
SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On June 12, 2020, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate
under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 24. On June 23, 2020, Chief Special Master
Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine
compensation for his Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”). ECF No. 25.
I. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
$328,155.19. The award is comprised of the following: $162,000.00 for pain and suffering,
$162,192.00 for actual loss of earnings, and $3,963.19, for actual unreimbursable expenses. This
amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through
a lump sum payment of $328,155.19, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner
agrees.

Case 1:19-vv-00641-UNJ Document 47 Filed 10/08/21 Page 4 of 4
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
BRIAN M. BOYNTON
Acting Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
DARRYL R. WISHARD
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ LYNN C. SCHLIE
Lynn C. Schlie
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 616-3667
Fax: (202) 616-4310
Dated: September 1, 2021