Thomas Hopkins v. HHS - Influenza, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (2015)

Filed 2014-01-27Decided 2015-06-08Vaccine Influenza
compensated$242,999

Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]

Thomas Hopkins filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 27, 2014, alleging that he developed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on September 22, 2011. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused Mr.

Hopkins' condition or any other injury or disability. Despite the denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for damages.

Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman adopted this stipulation, awarding Mr. Hopkins a lump sum of $225,000.00 for all damages.

Subsequently, the parties filed another stipulation regarding attorneys' fees and costs. The Special Master approved an award of $17,999.50 for attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to Mr.

Hopkins and his counsel, Ronald Craig Homer of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C. Additionally, Mr.

Hopkins was awarded $4.91 for costs incurred directly by him. The total compensation awarded to Mr.

Hopkins was $242,999.50. The case was resolved through these stipulations, and judgment was entered accordingly.

The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the specific mechanism of causation.

Theory of causation

Petitioner Thomas Hopkins alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on September 22, 2011, caused his chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation for damages, which was adopted by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or evidence presented regarding the mechanism of injury. The award consisted of a $225,000.00 lump sum for damages, plus $17,999.50 for attorneys' fees and costs and $4.91 for petitioner's costs, totaling $242,999.50. The decision was issued on January 5, 2015, with a subsequent decision on fees and costs on May 15, 2015. Petitioner was represented by Ronald Craig Homer, and respondent was represented by Claudia Barnes Gangi. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman presided.

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