Catherine Callahan v. HHS - Hepatitis B, fatigue, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (2015)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Catherine Callahan filed a petition on July 16, 2015, alleging that a Hepatitis B vaccination administered on January 7, 2010, caused her to suffer from fatigue, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Respondent denied that the vaccination caused Petitioner's alleged injuries but agreed to a joint stipulation for compensation.
Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $32,089.92 for all damages, plus an additional $2,910.08 to satisfy a Medicaid lien, totaling $34,999.90.
Separately, the parties stipulated to an award of $24,684.82 for attorneys' fees and costs, which the Special Master also approved. The total compensation awarded to Catherine Callahan was $56,774.82.
The case was resolved by stipulation. Petitioner was represented by Howard Scott Gold of Gold Law Firm, LLC, and Respondent was represented by Althea Walker Davis of the United States Department of Justice.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical examinations, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Catherine Callahan alleged that a Hepatitis B vaccination administered on January 7, 2010, caused her to suffer from fatigue, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to an award of compensation. The Special Master adopted the stipulation. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the alleged injuries. Petitioner was awarded a total of $56,774.82, which included $34,999.90 for damages and a Medicaid lien, and $24,684.82 for attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman issued the decision on September 9, 2015. Petitioner was represented by Howard Scott Gold, and Respondent by Althea Walker Davis.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00007