Marc Sanders v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (2026)

Marc Sanders filed a petition on January 14, 2026, alleging that an influenza vaccination caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The case is still pending.

This decision addresses a motion for an interim award of attorney's fees and costs filed by the petitioner. The petitioner requested $33,298.06, comprising $24,067.50 in fees and $9,230.56 in costs.

The respondent did not object to the award but deferred to the court's discretion. The court found an interim award appropriate, noting that claims alleging flu vaccine-induced peripheral neuropathy are common and often result in damages awards, and that withdrawal of counsel is a reasonable ground for such an award.

The court adopted the lodestar method for calculating fees and found the requested hourly rates and costs to be reasonable and well-substantiated. The court granted the motion, awarding the full requested amount of $33,298.06 to be paid to the petitioner's former counsel.