Margaret Hopper v. HHS - Influenza, Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (2015)

Margaret Hopper filed a petition on February 7, 2014, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 3, 2013, caused her to develop the Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused the Petitioner's alleged injuries or any other injury.

On March 12, 2015, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages and attorneys' fees. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

The stipulation awarded Margaret Hopper a lump sum of $350,000.00 for all damages. Additionally, her attorney, Edward Kraus of the Law Offices of Chicago Kent, was awarded a lump sum of $24,440.90 for attorneys' fees and costs, payable jointly to Petitioner and her attorney.

A further lump sum of $435.93 was allocated for reimbursement of a medical lien to the State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, payable jointly to Petitioner and the Bureau of Collection & Technical Recovery Section. Judgment was to be entered in accordance with the stipulation, with the clerk of the court to enter judgment unless a motion for review was filed.

Julia McInerny of the United States Department of Justice represented the respondent.