VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00211
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00211
Petitioner: Mark Cunningham
Filed: 2022-02-24
Decided: 2025-10-23
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2020-04-30
Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 110000

AI-assisted case summary:
On February 24, 2022, Mark Cunningham filed a petition alleging that a Tdap vaccine administered on April 30, 2020 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The public stipulation identifies him as an adult petitioner but does not provide his exact age.

Respondent denied that Mr. Cunningham suffered vaccine-caused GBS, CIDP, or any other vaccine-related injury and denied that his current condition was a sequela of vaccination. The public stipulation does not describe his first neurologic symptom, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, treatment, or residual limitations.

The parties resolved the matter by joint stipulation. On October 23, 2025, Special Master Jennifer A. Shah adopted the stipulation and awarded Mr. Cunningham $110,000.00 as a lump sum through counsel's IOLTA account.

Theory of causation field:
Adult petitioner; Tdap vaccine April 30, 2020; alleged GBS and/or CIDP. COMPENSATED by stipulation. Respondent denied diagnosis/causation/sequelae. Public stipulation lacks onset, testing, treatment, expert, and residual detail. Award $110,000.00 lump sum. SM Jennifer A. Shah October 23, 2025. Petition filed February 24, 2022. Attorney Nancy Meyers.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00211-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-12-08
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/23/2025) regarding 51 DECISION of Special Master - Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Jennifer A. Shah. (sl) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:22-vv-00211-UNJ Document 55 Filed 12/08/25 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 22-211V
Filed: October 23, 2025
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MARK CUNNINGHAM,
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Petitioner, *
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v.
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SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND *
HUMAN SERVICES, *
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Respondent. *
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Nancy Meyers, Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner.
Mark Hellie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On February 24, 2022, Mark Cunningham (“Petitioner”) filed a petition, seeking
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine
Program”).2 Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges he suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome
(“GBS”) and/or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (“CIDP”) as a result of
the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination he received on April 30, 2020. See
Stipulation ¶ 2, 4, dated October 23, 2025 (ECF No. 50); see also Petition.
1 Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted
on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. §
3501 (2012). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As
provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the Decision’s inclusion of
certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen
days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret
or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files
or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.”
Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the Decision in its present form will be available. Id.
2 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L.
No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter
“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the
pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.

Case 1:22-vv-00211-UNJ Document 55 Filed 12/08/25 Page 2 of 7
Respondent denies “that petitioner suffered from GBS and/or CIDP and further denies that
the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner’s alleged conditions, any other injury, or his current condition.”
See Stipulation ¶ 6. Nonetheless, both parties, while maintaining their above-stated positions,
agreed in a stipulation filed October 23, 2025, that the issues before them can be settled and that a
decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.
I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation
is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth
therein.
The stipulation awards:
a lump sum of $110,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's
IOL TA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.
Stipulation ¶ 8. This award represents compensation for all damages that would be available under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.
I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made to
Petitioner. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk
of the Court is directed to enter judgment herewith.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Jennifer A. Shah
Jennifer A. Shah
Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice
renouncing their right to seek review.
2

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