Mark Chase, statutory beneficiary of Barbara Pauley-Chase v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) (2021)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Mark Chase, as the statutory beneficiary of his deceased wife, Barbara Pauley-Chase, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 23, 2020. He alleged that Ms.
Pauley-Chase developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on October 17, 2018. Tragically, Ms.
Pauley-Chase subsequently died on December 22, 2018, from her GBS. The respondent, represented by Adriana Ruth Teitel of the U.S.
Department of Justice, filed a Rule 4(c) report on June 14, 2021, conceding that Ms. Pauley-Chase suffered a GBS injury that is presumed to be vaccine-related under the Vaccine Injury Table, occurring within the Table timeframe, and that there was no apparent alternative cause.
The respondent further agreed that Ms. Pauley-Chase died as a result of her GBS and had satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation.
On June 15, 2021, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation.
Subsequently, on October 15, 2021, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $250,000.00, which the petitioner agreed to. On November 24, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a decision awarding Mr.
Chase a lump sum payment of $250,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, representing compensation for all damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details of Ms.
Pauley-Chase's GBS, diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received. Petitioner was represented by Stephen I.
Leshner of Stephen I. Leshner, P.C.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Mark Chase, as statutory beneficiary of Barbara Pauley-Chase, alleged that Ms. Pauley-Chase suffered Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and subsequent death as a result of influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines received on October 17, 2018. The respondent conceded that Ms. Pauley-Chase suffered a GBS injury that satisfies the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table, affording a presumption of onset if GBS occurs between three and forty-two days after receipt of a seasonal flu vaccination with no apparent alternative cause. The respondent also agreed that Ms. Pauley-Chase died as a result of her GBS. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement on June 15, 2021, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. A stipulation for award was filed on October 15, 2021, and Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a decision on November 24, 2021, awarding a lump sum of $250,000.00 to Petitioner. The public text indicates the theory of causation is based on the Vaccine Injury Table. No specific medical experts or alternative causation theories were detailed in the provided public text. Petitioner was represented by Stephen I. Leshner, P.C., and Respondent was represented by Adriana Ruth Teitel of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00076