VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01065 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01065 Petitioner: Aaron Woodard Filed: 2023-07-12 Decided: 2025-12-12 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2021-12-30 Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) / chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 235000 AI-assisted case summary: On July 12, 2023, Aaron Woodard filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on December 30, 2021 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The public stipulation identifies him as an adult petitioner but does not provide his exact age. Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Woodard's neurologic condition and denied that his current symptoms were sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. The public stipulation does not describe the first neurologic symptom, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, IVIG or other treatment, rehabilitation, or residual limitations. The parties resolved the claim by stipulation. On December 12, 2025, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and awarded Mr. Woodard a lump sum of $235,000.00 for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. Theory of causation field: Adult petitioner; influenza vaccine December 30, 2021; alleged GBS/CIDP. COMPENSATED by stipulation. Respondent denied causation and sequelae; public stipulation lacks clinical chronology, diagnostics, treatment, and residual detail. Award $235,000.00 lump sum. CSM Corcoran December 12, 2025. Petition filed July 12, 2023. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-01065-0 Date issued/filed: 2026-01-16 Pages: 8 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/12/2025) regarding 57 DECISION on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- contains petitioner’s confidential information. The stipulation was signed using an electronic signature and the electronic signature page was removed as it 3 Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa. Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury 2 will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id. redacted version of the decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the decision unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or posted on the court’s website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information website. This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision is will appear at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc or on the Court of Federal Claims reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it to a publicly available website. This decision Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a 1 GBS or CIDP or its residual effects; and denies that his current condition is a sequela of a that petitioner suffered GBS or CIDP; denies that the flu vaccine was the cause of petitioner’s entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 56). Respondent denies 3 On December 11, 2025, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Id. as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on December 30, 2021, he suffered Guillain- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that 2 On July 12, 2023, Aaron Woodard (“petitioner”) filed a claim for compensation in the DECISION ON STIPULATION 1 Madylan L. Yarc, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent. Catherine W. Costigan, Mctlaw, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Respondent. * * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * * v. * Special Master Gowen * Petitioner, * No. 23-1065V * AARON WOODARD, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Filed: December 12, 2025 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS In the United States Court of Federal Claims Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 1 of 8 2 11(a). Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 4 Special Master Thomas L. Gowen s/Thomas L. Gowen IT IS SO ORDERED. accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation. 4 and on the terms set forth therein. The Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount under 42 U.S.C. § 15(a). This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. A) A lump sum payment of $235,000.00 be paid through an ACH deposit to The stipulation provides: Id. at ¶ 7. awarding petitioner compensation described in the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. now agree that issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered vaccine-related injury. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining the respective positions, the parties Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 2 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 3 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 4 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 5 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 6 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 7 of 8 Case 1:23-vv-01065-UNJ Document 61 Filed 01/16/26 Page 8 of 8