{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-1","petitioner_identifier":"Gary Davison","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":71.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"Prevnar 13 (pneumococcal conjugate)","vaccination_date":"2017-08-10","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), depression, and death by suicide","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":500000,"decision_date":"2025-12-02","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal42","extracted_at":"2026-05-05 00:15:43","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":10,"theory_of_causation":"Prevnar 13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on August 10, 2017, age 71, followed about 10 days later by GBS, respiratory compromise, depression during and after hospitalization, and death by suicide on December 29, 2017. COMPENSATED. Petitioner Ronald Davison, executor of Gary Davison's estate, relied on Dr. Nizar Souayah and Dr. Lawrence Steinman to argue molecular mimicry/cross-reactivity caused GBS and that GBS substantially contributed to suicide. Respondent's Dr. Peter Donofrio, Dr. Harry Schroeder, and Dr. Yang Zhang disputed the vaccine-GBS link and Steinman's molecular mimicry theory. Special Master Horner granted entitlement August 19, 2025. Damages awarded December 2, 2025: $500,000 total ($250,000 death benefit + $250,000 pain and suffering), paid by ACH to counsel's IOLTA.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2017-12-29","petition_filed_date":"2019-09-12","case_summary":"On September 12, 2019, Ronald Davison, as Executor of the Estate of Gary Davison, filed a petition alleging that Gary Davison suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) caused by a Prevnar 13 (pneumococcal) vaccine received on August 10, 2017. The petition also alleged that Gary Davison suffered depression leading to suicide as a consequence of his GBS. Gary Davison was 71 years old at the time of vaccination and had a history of cerebral vascular accidents. Approximately ten days after vaccination, he developed symptoms consistent with GBS, including progressive weakness, numbness, and tingling in his extremities, along with leg pain and difficulty breathing. His GBS diagnosis was confirmed by elevated protein in his cerebrospinal fluid and findings on an EMG/NCS study. During his hospitalization, he was intubated due to respiratory difficulty and expressed a desire to die, leading to a diagnosis of situational depression, though a full psychiatric evaluation was limited by his condition. He was treated with IVIG and eventually extubated. After regaining decision-making capacity, he continued to report feeling down, and was treated with paroxetine. He was discharged to rehabilitation and later home, but his condition worsened. He was hospitalized again briefly in December 2017. His brother noted that upon returning home, Gary Davison became very depressed due to his weakness and perceived lack of recovery. He committed suicide on December 29, 2017. Petitioner's expert, Nizar Souayah, M.D., opined that the Prevnar 13 vaccine caused the decedent's GBS through molecular mimicry and that the GBS was a substantial contributing factor and but-for cause of his depression and subsequent suicide, citing increased risks of depression and suicide in GBS patients. Petitioner's other expert, Lawrence Steinman, M.D., also proposed a molecular mimicry theory involving phosphoglycerol molecules in the vaccine cross-reacting with myelin tissue. Respondent's experts, Peter Donofrio, M.D., and Harry Schroeder, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., disagreed that the pneumococcal vaccine is associated with GBS, suggesting the decedent's GBS occurred by chance. Respondent's expert Yang Zhang, Ph.D., also critiqued Dr. Steinman's molecular mimicry theory. In a ruling on entitlement dated August 19, 2025, Special Master Daniel T. Horner found that the petitioner had met the burden of proof under the Althen test, concluding that the Prevnar 13 vaccine caused Gary Davison's GBS and that his GBS was a substantial contributing factor and but-for cause of his death by suicide. On December 2, 2025, Special Master Horner issued a decision awarding compensation. The parties stipulated to a total award of $500,000.00, consisting of $250,000.00 for past pain and suffering and $250,000.00 for the statutory benefit for a vaccine-related death. The award was to be paid as a lump sum via ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Edward Kraus","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Kraus Law Group, LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Chicago, IL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|edward-kraus|","firm_canonical_key":"kraus-law-group","package_title":"DAVISON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-0","title":"DAVISON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 8/19/2025) regarding 78 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (ksb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-09-19","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":499502,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-1","title":"DAVISON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/02/2025) regarding 85 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (cd) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-01-12","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":402052,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-cl-extra-11239830","title":"DAVISON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10773245","date_issued":"2026-01-12","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: DAVISON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01404-cl-extra-11239830"}]}