VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00085
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00085
Petitioner: Randolph Kester
Filed: 2022-01-27
Decided: 2025-06-11
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2019-10-30
Condition: Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 275000

AI-assisted case summary:
On January 27, 2022, Kelly Wicoff, as personal representative of the Estate of Randolph Kester, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that Randolph Kester received an influenza vaccine on October 30, 2019, subsequently developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), and that his death on February 29, 2020, was a sequela of this alleged vaccine-related injury. The respondent denied that the immunization caused Mr. Kester's injury or death. The parties, however, reached a joint stipulation to settle the case, which was filed on May 15, 2025. Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth adopted the stipulation. The settlement included a lump sum payment of $275,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as personal representative of the Estate of Randolph Kester. This amount represented compensation for all damages available under the program. The clerk of the court was directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. Jessi C. Huff, Esq., represented the petitioner, and Dorian Hurley, Esq., represented the respondent. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details of the GBS, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the specific mechanism of causation.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that Randolph Kester received an influenza vaccine on October 30, 2019, developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), and died on February 29, 2020, as a sequela of the GBS. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case. The public text does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury. The case was settled via stipulation for $275,000.00, representing all damages available under the program. Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth issued the decision on May 16, 2025 (publicly accessible June 11, 2025). Petitioner counsel was Jessi C. Huff, Esq., and respondent counsel was Dorian Hurley, Esq.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00085-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-06-11
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 5/16/2025) regarding 50 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:22-vv-00085-UNJ Document 51 Filed 06/11/25 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 22-85V
Filed: May 16, 2025
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
KELLY WICOFF, *
as personal representative of the *
ESTATE OF RANDOLPH KESTER, *
*
Petitioner, *
*
*
v. *
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jessi C. Huff, Esq., Mctlaw, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Dorian Hurley, Esq., US Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Roth, Special Master:
On January 27, 2022, Kelly Wicoff [“petitioner”] filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 on behalf of the Estate of Randolph Kester.
Petitioner alleges that Mr. Kester developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome after receiving an influenza
vaccine on October 30, 2019 and that his death on February 29, 2020 was a sequela of his alleged
vaccine-related injury. Stipulation, filed May 15, 2025, at ¶¶ 1-4. Respondent denies that the
aforementioned immunization caused petitioner’s injury or death. Stipulation at ¶ 6.
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 1:22-vv-00085-UNJ Document 51 Filed 06/11/25 Page 2 of 7
Nevertheless, the parties have agreed to settle the case. On May 15, 2025, the parties filed
a joint stipulation agreeing to settle this case and describing the settlement terms.3
Respondent agrees to issue the following payment:
A lump sum of $275,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's
IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as personal representative of the
Estate of Randolph Kester. 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.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
Mindy Michaels Roth
Special Master
3 The stipulation was filed with petitioner’s signature completed via Nintex (electronic verification). To
avoid the unnecessary disclosure of petitioner’s personal information, the Nintex form has been omitted
from this decision.
4 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

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