VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00465
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00465
Petitioner: Johnny Scott Garland
Filed: 2025-03-13
Decided: 2025-10-23
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2023-10-31
Condition: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
On March 13, 2025, John Garland, Shannon Land, and Erin Albert filed a petition as administrators of the Estate of Johnny Scott Garland. They alleged that an influenza vaccine administered to Mr. Garland on October 31, 2023 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome and that he experienced residual effects until his death on December 6, 2023. The public entitlement ruling does not state Mr. Garland's exact age.

Respondent conceded entitlement, agreeing that Mr. Garland's illness met the Vaccine Injury Table criteria for GBS because onset occurred within the 3-to-42-day period after vaccination and no apparent alternative cause was identified. The public ruling does not describe his first neurologic symptoms, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, treatment, or the circumstances of death.

On October 23, 2025, Chief Special Master Corcoran found that the estate was entitled to compensation. Damages had not yet been determined in the public text reviewed.

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine October 31, 2023 allegedly causing Table GBS in adult decedent Johnny Scott Garland; death December 6, 2023. ENTITLEMENT GRANTED; damages pending. Petition by estate administrators John Garland, Shannon Land, and Erin Albert filed March 13, 2025. Respondent conceded GBS onset within 3-42 days and no apparent alternative cause. Public ruling lacks clinical timeline, diagnostics, treatment, and death details. CSM Corcoran October 23, 2025.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00465-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-12-09
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/23/2025) regarding 18 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (cr) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00465-UNJ Document 25 Filed 12/09/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0465V
JOHN GARLAND, SHANNON LAND,
and ERIN ALBERT, as Administrators Chief Special Master Corcoran
of the Estate of JOHNNY SCOTT
GARLAND, Filed: October 23, 2025
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Isaiah Richard Kalinowski, Bosson Legal Group, Fairfax, VA, for Petitioner.
Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On March 13, 2025, John Garland, Shannon Land, and Erin Albert, as
Administrators of the Estate of Johnny Scott Garland (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C.
§300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioners alleged that Johnny Scott Garland
(“Mr. Garland”) suffered Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”), a defined Table injury, or in
the alternative caused-in-fact injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October
1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government
Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance
with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information,
the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that
the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2018).

Case 1:25-vv-00465-UNJ Document 25 Filed 12/09/25 Page 2 of 2
31, 2023. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 4, 45-46. Petitioners also alleged that Mr. Garland received the
vaccine within the United States, that he suffered the residual effects of his GBS until his
death on December 6, 2023, and that neither Petitioners nor any other party has filed a
civil action or received compensation for Mr. Garland’s GBS, alleged as vaccine caused.
Id. at ¶¶ 4, 44, 48. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.
On October 23, 2025, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes
that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at
1. Specifically, Respondent “has concluded that [P]etitioners have satisfied the criteria
set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation
(“QAI”), which afford [P]etitioners a presumption of causation.” Id. at 8. Respondent
further agrees that based on the record as it now stands, [P]etitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id.
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
2