VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00111
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00111
Petitioner: Margaret Hopper
Filed: 2014-02-07
Decided: 2015-04-03
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2013-01-03
Condition: Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 374876.83

AI-assisted case summary:
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.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Margaret Hopper alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on January 3, 2013, caused her to develop the Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for damages and attorneys' fees, which Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman adopted. The stipulation awarded Petitioner a lump sum of $350,000.00 for all damages, attorneys' fees and costs of $24,440.90 payable jointly to Petitioner and her attorney Edward Kraus, and reimbursement of a medical lien of $435.93 to the State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, onset, symptoms, tests, treatments, or mechanism of injury.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00111-0
Date issued/filed: 2015-04-03
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/13/2015) regarding 23 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (mb) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-00111-UNJ Document 27 Filed 04/03/15 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-111V
Filed: March 13, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
MARGARET HOPPER, *
* Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
Petitioner, *
* Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
* Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Miller Fisher Variant; Attorneys’
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Fees and Costs; Reasonable Amount
* Requested To Which Respondent
Respondent. * Does Not Object.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Edward Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.
Julia McInerny, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
DECISION1
On February 7, 2014, Margaret Hopper (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006).
Petitioner alleged that, as a result of the administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on January
3, 2013, she suffered from the Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”).
On March 12, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation and attorneys’ fees. Respondent denies that the flu
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by
Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any
information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in
substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the
disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule
18(b).
2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2006) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to
individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
1

Case 1:14-vv-00111-UNJ Document 27 Filed 04/03/15 Page 2 of 7
vaccine caused Petitioner’s alleged injuries or any other injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to
the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation
reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages and attorneys’ fees, on
the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that Petitioner and her attorney shall receive the following
compensation:
A lump sum of $350,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a);
A lump sum of $24,440.90, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and
Petitioner’s attorney, for attorneys’ fees and costs available under 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(e), and, in compliance with General Order #9, no out-of-pocket expenses
were incurred by Petitioner in proceeding on the petition; and
A lump sum of $435.93, for reimbursement of the State of Illinois Department of
Healthcare and Family Services for Medical Lien, in the form of a check payable
jointly to Petitioner and
Bureau of Collection & Technical Recovery Section
Attn: Mitch Levin, Recovery Specialist
401 South Clinton
5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60627
Stipulation ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation and for
attorneys’ fees. Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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