Tiara Spooner, parent of G.S. v. HHS - Hepatitis A, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2014)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Tiara Spooner, as the parent of G.S., a minor, filed a petition alleging that the hepatitis A vaccine caused her child to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The petition was filed on June 9, 2014.
The Special Master's decision on January 16, 2014, dismissed the claim for insufficient proof. However, the court found that the petitioner's counsel, Ronald C.
Homer, Esq., acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis for proceeding, making them eligible for attorneys' fees and costs. The respondent did not object to the petitioner's eligibility for fees and costs.
The parties stipulated to a total amount of $17,000.00 for attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Christian J.
Moran awarded this amount in a lump sum, jointly payable to the petitioner and her counsel. The case was resolved through a joint stipulation concerning final attorneys' fees and costs.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Tiara Spooner alleged that the hepatitis A vaccine caused her minor child, G.S., to suffer Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The public decision does not describe the vaccination date, the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. The petition was dismissed for insufficient proof. However, the Special Master found that petitioner's counsel acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis for proceeding, making the petitioner eligible for attorneys' fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(e). The parties stipulated to an award of $17,000.00 for attorneys' fees and costs, which Special Master Christian J. Moran awarded in a lump sum, jointly payable to the petitioner and her counsel, Ronald C. Homer, Esq. The decision date for the fees and costs award was June 30, 2014.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00159