Michael Burch Vessels v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) (2023)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Michael Burch Vessels filed a petition for vaccine compensation on December 1, 2021, alleging Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on August 28, 2020. He also received a Shingrix vaccine on the same day.
Petitioner alleged that he suffered residual effects for more than six months and that the vaccine was administered in the United States. Respondent denied that petitioner sustained a GBS Table injury or that the vaccine caused his condition, specifically denying that the vaccine caused his chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), GBS, or any other injury, and denying that his current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.
Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on February 24, 2023, agreeing to a settlement. Chief Special Master Brian H.
Corcoran adopted the stipulation as the decision of the court. The decision awarded Petitioner a lump sum of $140,000.00 as compensation for all damages, payable to Petitioner.
The decision was issued on March 27, 2023. Petitioner was represented by Robert A.
Young of English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP. Respondent was represented by Emily H.
Manoso of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Michael Burch Vessels received an influenza vaccine on August 28, 2020, and alleges Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a Table injury. Respondent denies a Table injury and causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settlement. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, expert testimony, or detailed clinical findings. The award is a lump sum of $140,000.00 for all damages. The decision was issued by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran on March 27, 2023. Petitioner's counsel was Robert A. Young, and Respondent's counsel was Emily H. Manoso.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02243