Thomas O’Keeffe v. HHS - Influenza, Transverse Myelitis (2015)

Thomas O’Keeffe filed a petition on October 29, 2013, alleging that an influenza vaccine he received on December 8, 2010, caused him to develop Transverse Myelitis (TM) with residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's TM or any other injury.

The parties subsequently agreed to a joint stipulation filed on September 16, 2014, to settle the case. Special Master Christian J.

Moran reviewed the stipulation, found it reasonable, and adopted it as the decision of the Court. As part of the stipulation, Mr.

O'Keeffe was awarded a lump sum payment of $400,000.00, payable by check to Thomas O'Keeffe. This amount was intended to compensate for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details of the TM, diagnostic tests performed, treatments received, or the specific mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury. The names of petitioner's counsel were Ronald C.

Homer of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, and respondent's counsel was Lisa A. Watts of the U.S.

Department of Justice.