Lauri Hainsfurther v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2022)

Lauri Hainsfurther filed a petition on March 11, 2020, alleging that she suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine she received on September 19, 2018. She claimed her GBS had persisted for more than six months, a requirement for compensation under the Vaccine Act.

However, the record lacked sufficient evidence to establish this six-month severity requirement. On May 16, 2022, Ms.

Hainsfurther moved to dismiss her petition, acknowledging her inability to prove entitlement to compensation and that proceeding further would be unreasonable. She stated her intention to protect her rights to file a civil action in the future.

The court noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove a Table Injury or an injury actually caused by a vaccine, and must also demonstrate residual effects for more than six months or an in-hospital surgical intervention. As the record did not contain sufficient medical records or opinions to establish the six-month severity requirement, her claim was denied and the case was dismissed for insufficient proof.