VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00250
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00250
Petitioner: Joseph Petruzzi
Filed: 2020-03-05
Decided: 2026-01-30
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2018-01-05
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 15000

AI-assisted case summary:
On March 5, 2020, Joseph Petruzzi filed a petition alleging that he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving an influenza vaccine on January 5, 2018.

Mr. Petruzzi died on December 20, 2024, while the case was pending. Dorothy Petruzzi, administratrix of his estate, was substituted as petitioner in September 2025. Respondent denied that Mr. Petruzzi had established Table GBS, denied that the flu vaccine caused GBS or his death, and denied that his condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. The public stipulation does not describe his GBS onset date, hospitalization, neurologic testing, treatment, rehabilitation, residual impairments, or circumstances of death.

On January 30, 2026, Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the parties' stipulation and awarded the estate a lump sum of $15,000.00 for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. Payment was directed through counsel's IOLTA account. The estate was represented by Lawrence R. Cohan of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, P.C.

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine on January 5, 2018 allegedly causing GBS; adult petitioner, exact age not stated; petitioner died December 20, 2024 while case pending, but respondent denied vaccine causation and denied vaccine-caused death. COMPENSATED by stipulation to estate. Public stipulation lacks onset, hospitalization, testing, treatment, rehabilitation, residual, and death-circumstance detail. Award $15,000 lump sum. SM Thomas L. Gowen; petition March 5, 2020; decision January 30, 2026. Attorney Lawrence R. Cohan.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00250-0
Date issued/filed: 2026-03-12
Pages: 8
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/30/2026) regarding 68 DECISION on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-00250-UNJ Document 72 Filed 03/12/26 Page 1 of 8
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: January 30, 2026
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DOROTHY PETRUZZI, *
As administratrix of the Estate of *
JOSEPH PETRUZZI, decreased *
*
Petitioner, * No. 20-250V
*
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lawrence R. Cohan, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Catherine E. Stolar, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
DECISION ON STIPULATION1
On March 5, 2020, Dorothy Petruzzi, as administrator of the Estate of Joseph Petruzzi
(“petitioner”), filed a claim in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petition
(ECF No. 1).3 Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the influenza4 vaccine on January 5,
2018, he developed a Table Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Id.
1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it to a publicly available website. This decision
will appear at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc or on the Court of Federal Claims
website. This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision is
posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information
furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or
confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed
redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the decision
will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id.
2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012)
(Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. §
300aa.
3 Mr. Petruzzi died on December 20, 2024, and Ms. Dorothy Petruzzi, as the legal representative of the estate of Mr.
Petruzzi, was substituted as the petitioner in this matter on September 2, 2025. Order to Amend Case Caption (ECF
No. 61).
4

Case 1:20-vv-00250-UNJ Document 72 Filed 03/12/26 Page 2 of 8
On January 30, 2026, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awards compensation to Petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 67). Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained GBS, or that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Petruzzi’s alleged injury, and denies
that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Petruzzi’s death. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their
respective positions, the parties now agree that issues between them settled and that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner described in the stipulation, attached
hereto as Appendix A.
The stipulation provides:
1) A lump sum payment of $15,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to
petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as
legal representative of the Estate of Joseph Petruzzi.
This amount represents payment for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(a).
I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount
and on the terms set forth therein. The Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in
accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.5
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
5 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).
2

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