VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00326
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00326
Petitioner: Panos Andonyadis
Filed: 2020-03-23
Decided: 2022-05-03
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2018-08-15
Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 55496

AI-assisted case summary:
Panos Andonyadis filed a petition on March 23, 2020, alleging that he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after receiving an Influenza vaccine on August 15, 2018. He claimed the GBS resulted in significant extremity weakness, partial paralysis, and visual fatigue, or alternatively, that the vaccine significantly aggravated an underlying disorder leading to GBS. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused the alleged injuries or petitioner's current condition. Despite maintaining their respective positions, the parties reached a stipulation for an award. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding Mr. Andonyadis $55,496.04 as compensation for all damages available under the program. The award was to be paid as a lump sum via check. The decision was filed on May 3, 2022. Petitioner's counsel was Glen Howard Sturtevant, Jr. of Rawls Law Group, and respondent's counsel was Parisa Tabassian of the Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. The specific mechanism of causation was not detailed in the public decision.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Panos Andonyadis alleged that an Influenza vaccine administered on August 15, 2018, caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), resulting in extremity weakness, partial paralysis, and visual fatigue, or alternatively, aggravated an underlying disorder leading to GBS. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation for award, and Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding $55,496.04. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury. The award was for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner was represented by Glen Howard Sturtevant, Jr., and respondent by Parisa Tabassian. The decision date was May 3, 2022.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00326-0
Date issued/filed: 2022-05-03
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/12/2022) regarding 44 DECISION for Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (slw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-00326-UNJ Document 50 Filed 05/03/22 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: April 12, 2022
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
PANOS ANDONYADIS, * UNPUBLISHED
*
* No. 20-326V
Petitioner, *
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation for Award;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza (Flu) vaccine;
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome
* (GBS).
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Glen Howard Sturtevant, Jr., Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Parisa Tabassian, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
DECISION FOR STIPULATION1
On March 23, 2020, Panos Andonyadis (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the
Influenza (“flu”) vaccine on August 15, 2018, he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS”),
which resulted in significant extremity weakness, partial paralysis, and visual fatigue, and in the
alternative, that the flu vaccine significantly aggravated an underlying disorder resulting in
petitioner developing GBS.
On April 12, 2022, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (“Stip.”) (ECF No. 43). Respondent
denies that the flu vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged injuries, or any other injury or his
1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion 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 opinion 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.

Case 1:20-vv-00326-UNJ Document 50 Filed 05/03/22 Page 2 of 2
current condition. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties
now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered
awarding the compensation to the petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached
hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7.
The stipulation provides:
1) A lump sum of $55,496.04 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damage that would be 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).
2