{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677-0","petitioner_identifier":"Gerret Swearingen","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"Tdap","vaccination_date":"2020-06-12","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barré Syndrome","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":126000,"decision_date":"2025-01-02","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:40:50.225905+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Gerret Swearingen alleged that his Tdap vaccination on June 12, 2020, caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), an injury listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Respondent denied causation. The parties stipulated to settle the case, agreeing to an award of $126,000.00 for all damages. The stipulation explicitly states that it is not an admission by the United States that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's GBS. The public decision does not detail the specific medical evidence, expert testimony, or the mechanism of causation relied upon by either party, as the case was resolved via stipulation. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen issued the decision on January 2, 2025. Petitioner was represented by Leah V. Durant, and respondent by Mary E. Holmes. The award was a lump sum of $126,000.00.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2022-06-17","case_summary":"Gerret Swearingen filed a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on June 17, 2022, alleging that the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine he received on June 12, 2020, caused him to suffer Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). The Tdap vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr. Swearingen's GBS or any other injury. Despite maintaining their respective positions, the parties reached a stipulation to settle the case. The decision, issued by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen on January 2, 2025, adopted the parties' stipulation. Under the terms of the stipulation, Mr. Swearingen was awarded a lump sum of $126,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, as compensation for all damages. This award represents a settlement of liability and damages, and the United States does not admit that the Tdap vaccine caused Mr. Swearingen's GBS. The stipulation also provides for future proceedings to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. The parties waived their right to seek review of the decision. The public decision was originally filed on November 12, 2024. Petitioner was represented by Leah V. Durant of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, and respondent was represented by Mary E. Holmes of the U.S. Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details of the GBS, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Leah V. Durant","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Offices of Leah V. Durant","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|leah-durant|","firm_canonical_key":"law-offices-of-leah-v-durant","package_title":"SWEARINGEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677-0","title":"SWEARINGEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/12/24) regarding 40 DECISION on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-01-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":543540,"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-00677/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00677-1","title":"SWEARINGEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/28/2025) regarding 48 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-12-19","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}