{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913-1","petitioner_identifier":"Audrey Clapp","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":60.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2017-12-03","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barré syndrome","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2023-11-22","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:11:33.417222+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Table","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2019-12-18","case_summary":"Audrey Clapp, a 60-year-old adult, received an influenza vaccine on December 3, 2017. She alleged that she developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of this vaccination. Ms. Clapp had a significant pre-existing medical history, including type II diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression, with documented non-compliance with medications. She also experienced various neuropathic symptoms and falls in the years leading up to her vaccination. Following the vaccination, she reported dizziness, weakness, and pain, and was hospitalized for syncope and burns sustained from a fall. Approximately three weeks later, she experienced numbness, weakness, and difficulty walking, and was admitted to the hospital in January 2018 with progressive weakness, tremors, and difficulty walking. A neurologist suspected GBS, and elevated protein in her cerebrospinal fluid was noted, leading to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). She continued to experience symptoms throughout 2018, with some treaters speculating about chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) or diabetic neuropathy. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Justin Willer, opined that she developed GBS caused by the flu vaccine, with onset around three to four weeks after vaccination. Respondent's expert, Dr. Eric Lancaster, disagreed, arguing that her symptoms predated the vaccination, were inconsistent with GBS due to their variability and duration, and could be explained by her pre-existing diabetic neuropathy or conversion disorder, exacerbated by her mental health issues. The Special Master reviewed the medical records and expert testimony, ultimately finding that Ms. Clapp had not preponderantly established her claim that she suffered from GBS. The decision noted that her overall health history, both before and after vaccination, along with later treating physician opinions informed by the full record, were unsupportive of GBS as her likely injury. Therefore, entitlement was denied.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Audrey Clapp","petitioner_attorney_name":"David John Carney","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Green & Schafle LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Philadelphia, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:44:12","attorney_canonical_keys":"|david-carney|","firm_canonical_key":"green-and-schafle","package_title":"CLAPP v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913-0","title":"CLAPP v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/22/2023) regarding 53 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. 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SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/25/2024) regarding 63 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ag) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-04-25","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913-cl-extra-10735525","title":"Clapp v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10268935","date_issued":"2024-04-25","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Clapp v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01913-cl-extra-10735525"}]}