VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02336 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02336 Petitioner: Elizabeth Elwell Filed: 2021-12-28 Decided: 2025-11-12 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2019-01-07 Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 95500 AI-assisted case summary: On December 28, 2021, Elizabeth Elwell filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 7, 2019 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome. Respondent denied that Ms. Elwell sustained a Table injury, denied that the flu vaccine caused GBS or any other injury, and denied vaccine-related sequelae. The public stipulation does not describe the first neurologic symptoms, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, IVIG or plasma exchange, rehabilitation, or residual deficits. The parties resolved the case by stipulation. On November 12, 2025, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran awarded $87,500.00 as a lump sum and $8,000.00 to satisfy an Illinois Medicaid lien asserted through Rawlings Company, for a total award of $95,500.00. Theory of causation field: Influenza vaccine January 7, 2019 allegedly causing GBS; adult, exact age not stated. COMPENSATED by stipulation. Respondent denied Table injury, causation, and sequelae; public stipulation lacks neurologic chronology. Award $87,500 lump sum + $8,000 Illinois Medicaid lien/Rawlings = $95,500. Chief SM Brian H. Corcoran; petition December 28, 2021; decision November 12, 2025. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02336-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-08 Pages: 8 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/12/2025) regarding 55 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 1 of 8 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-2336V Filed: November 12, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * ELIZABETH ELWELL, * * Petitioner, * * * v. * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Edward Kraus, Esq., Kraus Law Group, LLC, Chicago, IL, for petitioner. Jamica M. Littles, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Roth, Special Master: On December 28, 2021, Elizabeth Elwell (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petitioner alleges that she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) after receiving an influenza vaccine on January 7, 2019. Stipulation, filed November 12, 2025, at ¶¶ 1-4. Respondent denies that the aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On November 12, 2025, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms. 1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). 1 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 2 of 8 Respondent agrees to issue the following payment: A. A lump sum of $87,500.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner; and B. A lump sum of $8,000.00, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien for services rendered to petitioner by the State of Illinois, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and The Rawlings Company: The Rawlings Company Attention: Nyree D. Stum P.O. Box2000 La Grange, KY 40031-2000 Reference # 159601230 Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to The Rawlings Company. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 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 is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Mindy Michaels Roth Mindy Michaels Roth Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 3 of 8 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 4 of 8 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 5 of 8 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 6 of 8 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 7 of 8 Case 1:21-vv-02336-UNJ Document 59 Filed 12/08/25 Page 8 of 8 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02336-cl-extra-11215729 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-08 Pages: 1 Docket text: Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10749144 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-2336V Filed: November 12, 2025 * * * * * * * * * * * * * ELIZABETH ELWELL, * * Petitioner, * * * v. * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Edward Kraus, Esq., Kraus Law Group, LLC, Chicago, IL, for petitioner. Jamica M. Littles, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 Roth, Special Master: On December 28, 2021, Elizabeth Elwell (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. 2 Petitioner alleges that she developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) after receiving an influenza vaccine on January 7, 2019. Stipulation, filed November 12, 2025, at ¶¶ 1-4. Respondent denies that the aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injury. Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On November 12, 2025, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms. 1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018). 1 Respondent agrees to issue the following payment: A. A lump sum of $87,500.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner; and B. A lump sum of $8,000.00, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien for services rendered to petitioner by the State of Illinois, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner and The Rawlings Company: The Rawlings Company Attention: Nyree D. Stum P.O. Box2000 La Grange, KY 40031-2000 Reference # 159601230 Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to The Rawlings Company. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 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 is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Mindy Michaels Roth Mindy Michaels Roth Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2