In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 17-1466V

UNPUBLISHED

ROBERT SNEATHEN, 

as Personal Representative of the 

ESTATE OF SANDRA SNEATHEN,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: June 16, 2020, 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; Influenza 

(Flu) Vaccine; Guillain-Barre 

Syndrome (GBS)

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.

Camille Michelle Collett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On October 6, 2017, Sandra Sneathen2 filed a filed a petition for compensation 

under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et 

seq.,

3 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that an influenza vaccination administered 

on August 29, 2015 caused Sandra Sneathen to develop Guillain-Barré Syndrome

(GBS) and that she experienced the residual effects of this condition for more than six 

months. Petition at 1, 3; Stipulation, issued June 16, 2020, at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies 

 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 

required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the EGovernment Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of

Electronic Government Services). This means the decision 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 On June 25, 2019, Sandra Sneathen passed away. On August 15, 2019, Robert Sneathen was 

appointed personal representative of Sandra Sneathen’s estate. On August 28, 2019, this court granted 

Petitioner’s motion to substitute Robert Sneathen as the Petitioner herein.

3 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for 

ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012).
2

that the influenza immunization is the cause of Sandra Sneathen’s alleged [GBS] or any 

other injury or her death, and further denies that Ms. Sneathen suffered a GBS Table 

injury .” Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

Nevertheless, on June 16, 2020, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, 

stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation 

reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth 

therein.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following 

compensation:

A lump sum of $150,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner, as 

the legal representative of the Estate of Sandra Sneathen. Stipulation at ¶ 8. 

This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be 

available under § 15(a). Id. 

I approve the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of 

a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed 

to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.4

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran

Chief Special Master

 4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice 

renouncing the right to seek review.