Wanda Payne v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2023)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On April 20, 2020, Robert Payne, on behalf of the Estate of Wanda Payne, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Wanda Payne received an influenza vaccine on or about October 9, 2017, and subsequently suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), which led to her death.
The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Mrs. Payne's GBS, SIRVA, or death.
Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages on January 26, 2023. Chief Special Master Brian H.
Corcoran reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable. The decision awarded the Estate of Wanda Payne $76,000.00 as compensation for all items of damages, payable to Petitioner as the legal representative of the Estate.
The parties were directed to enter judgment accordingly. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner alleged that Wanda Payne received an influenza vaccine on or about October 9, 2017, and subsequently suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), with GBS leading to her death. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Mrs. Payne's GBS, SIRVA, or death. The parties filed a joint stipulation for damages, and Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation as his decision, awarding $76,000.00 to the Estate of Wanda Payne. The public decision does not specify the theory of causation, the mechanism of injury, or name any experts. The award was based on the joint stipulation.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00463