{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-1","petitioner_identifier":"Grace L. Sharpe","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":null,"vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2020-10-06","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":395000,"decision_date":"2023-03-21","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T05:29:18.391937+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners Jodi Lawton and Christi Kirkland, as personal representatives of the estate of Grace L. Sharpe, alleged that Ms. Sharpe suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following an influenza vaccine administered on October 6, 2020, and that her death on November 5, 2020, was a sequela of GBS. The respondent conceded entitlement, agreeing that the case met the criteria for a Table injury, specifically GBS with onset between three and forty-two days after a seasonal flu vaccination, and that there was no preponderant evidence of an alternative cause. The respondent further agreed that Ms. Sharpe's death was related to her GBS. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement on February 13, 2023, finding Petitioners entitled to compensation. A subsequent Decision Awarding Damages on March 21, 2023, ordered a lump sum award of $395,000.00, comprising $145,500.00 for pain and suffering and $250,000.00 for the death benefit, based on a stipulation between Petitioners and Respondent. Attorneys for Petitioner were Andrew Gordon Melling of Burr & Forman, LLP, and for Respondent was Emily H. Manoso of the U.S. Department of Justice.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2020-11-05","petition_filed_date":"2022-03-14","case_summary":"Jodi Lawton and Christi Kirkland, as personal representatives of the estate of Grace L. Sharpe, filed a petition on March 14, 2022, alleging that Ms. Sharpe suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 6, 2020. They further alleged that Ms. Sharpe's death on November 5, 2020, was a sequela of her GBS. The respondent filed a combined Rule 4(c) report/Proffer on February 10, 2023, conceding that the case met the criteria for a Table injury, specifically GBS with onset between three and forty-two days after a seasonal flu vaccination, and that Ms. Sharpe's death was related to her GBS. The respondent also agreed that the petitioners timely filed their case, that Ms. Sharpe received the flu vaccine in the United States, and that the medical records established by a preponderance of the evidence that Ms. Sharpe's death was related to her GBS. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement on February 13, 2023, finding Petitioners entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on February 13, 2023, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Decision Awarding Damages, based on a stipulation/proffer. The parties stipulated to an award of $395,000.00, consisting of $145,500.00 for pain and suffering and $250,000.00 for the death benefit. This award was ordered to be paid as a lump sum in the form of a check payable to Petitioners.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Andrew Gordon Melling","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Burr & Forman, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Columbia, SC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|andrew-melling|","firm_canonical_key":"burr-and-forman","package_title":"LAWTON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-0","title":"LAWTON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 02/13/2023) regarding 31 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (tlf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-03-17","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":229364,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-1","title":"LAWTON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/13/2023) regarding 32 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (tlf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-03-21","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":234637,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00288-2","title":"LAWTON et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/22/2023) regarding 46 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (tlf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-09-22","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}