Lacole Willis v. HHS - Influenza, dysautonomia, central sensitization syndrome (2015)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Lacole Willis filed a petition on September 24, 2013, alleging that a trivalent influenza (flu) vaccination she received on October 18, 2012, caused her to develop dysautonomia, central sensitization syndrome, and other injuries. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's conditions.
The parties subsequently agreed to a joint stipulation filed on March 4, 2015, to settle the case. Special Master Christian J.
Moran reviewed the stipulation, found it reasonable, and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $85,000.00, representing compensation for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
Additionally, a lump sum of $26,500.00 was awarded for attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to petitioner and her attorney, Andrew D. Downing of Van Cott & Talamante.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses involved in this case. The specific mechanism of causation was not detailed in the public decision.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Lacole Willis received a trivalent influenza vaccine on October 18, 2012, and subsequently alleged development of dysautonomia and central sensitization syndrome. The respondent denied causation. The parties entered into a joint stipulation on March 4, 2015, which was adopted by Special Master Christian J. Moran. The stipulation resulted in a compensated outcome with an award of $85,000.00 for damages and $26,500.00 for attorneys' fees and costs. The public decision does not detail the specific medical mechanism, expert testimony, or clinical findings supporting the alleged injury or the stipulation.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00722