VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00916
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00916
Petitioner: Christopher Dougherty
Filed: 2021-05-17
Decided: 2021-10-20
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2017-10-20
Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 110000

AI-assisted case summary:
Christopher Dougherty filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 20, 2017. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit. On May 7, 2021, the Respondent conceded that Mr. Dougherty is entitled to compensation, stating that he satisfied the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation, which afford him a presumption of vaccine causation. The ruling on entitlement was issued on May 17, 2021, finding Mr. Dougherty entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on September 15, 2021, the Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, indicating that Mr. Dougherty should be awarded $110,000.00, an amount with which Mr. Dougherty agreed. The decision awarding damages, issued on October 20, 2021, awarded Mr. Dougherty a lump sum payment of $110,000.00, representing compensation for all damages available under Section 15(a).

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00916-0
Date issued/filed: 2021-06-16
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 05/17/2021) regarding 18 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 21 Filed 06/16/21 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-0916V
UNPUBLISHED
CHRISTOPHER DOUGHERTY, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: May 17, 2021
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On July 29, 2020, Christopher Dougherty filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on October 20, 2017. Petition at
1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On May 7, 2021, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1.
Specifically, “it is [R]espondent’s position that petitioner suffered from GBS and that he
has satisfied the criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table (Table) and the
1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required
to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-Government Act
of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government
Services). This means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance
with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information,
the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that
the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).

Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 21 Filed 06/16/21 Page 2 of 2
Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”), which afford him a presumption of
vaccine causation if the onset of GBS occurs between three and forty-two days after a
seasonal flu vaccination and there is no more likely alternative diagnosis and no apparent
alternative cause.” Id. at 4.
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
2

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00916-1
Date issued/filed: 2021-10-20
Pages: 4
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/16/2021) regarding 25 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 29 Filed 10/20/21 Page 1 of 4
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-916V
UNPUBLISHED
CHRISTOPHER DOUGHERTY, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: September 16, 2021
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
HUMAN SERVICES, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-
Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On July 29, 2020, Christopher Dougherty filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a
result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on October 20, 2017. Petition at
1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On May 17, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On September 15, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00. Proffer at
1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award.
1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am
required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic
Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the
internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact
medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from
public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 29 Filed 10/20/21 Page 2 of 4
Id. at 2. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as
stated in the Proffer.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $110,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section
15(a).
The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 29 Filed 10/20/21 Page 3 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
)
CHRISTOPHER DOUGHERTY, )
)
Petitioner, ) No. 20-916V ECF
)
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH )
AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
___________________________________ )
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1
I. Procedural History
On July 29, 2020, Christopher Dougherty (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (“the Vaccine Act” or
“the Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Petitioner alleged that he suffered Guillain-Barré
Syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to him on October
20, 2017. See Petition. On May 7, 2021, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report,
concluding that petitioner suffered GBS as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table
timeframe. On May 17, 2021, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement,
finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a GBS Table injury.
II. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
a lump sum of $110,000.00. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which
1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.

Case 1:20-vv-00916-UNJ Document 29 Filed 10/20/21 Page 4 of 4
petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III. Form of the Award
Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through a lump sum payment, as described below, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s
decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: A lump sum payment of $110,000.00 in
the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees.
Respectfully submitted,
BRIAN M. BOYNTON
Acting Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director Torts
Branch, Civil Division
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ Matthew L. Murphy
by Joseph A. Lewis
MATTHEW L. MURPHY
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C.
20044-0146
(202) 616-4840
matthew.murphy@usdoj.gov
Dated: September 15 2021
2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
2