{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-1","petitioner_identifier":"J.K.","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":18.2,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2011-09-21","condition_raw":"seizure","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":31357,"decision_date":"2015-05-21","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:34:14.911725+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":1,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner J.K., aged 18.2 years, received influenza and hepatitis A vaccines on September 21, 2011. The following day, he experienced a seizure. The public decision does not describe a specific medical theory connecting the vaccines to the seizure, nor does it name any experts. Petitioner did not file an expert report to support his claim of causation. Medical records indicated normal EEG and MRI results, and no further seizures. The treating physician noted the seizure was possibly related to the flu vaccine but also cited petitioner's history of anxiety, panic attacks, and marijuana use, which was associated with episodes of blacking out. Petitioner also had pre-existing conditions including anxiety and panic attacks. The Special Master dismissed the case for failure to prove causation and failure to prove more than six months of sequelae, as required by the Vaccine Act. The parties later stipulated to attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $31,357.53 ($27,492.50 in fees and $3,865.03 in costs), which Special Master Laura D. Millman awarded on May 21, 2015. The initial decision dismissing the claim was issued on May 8, 2015.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2014-09-08","case_summary":"On September 8, 2014, J.K. filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, alleging that influenza and hepatitis A vaccines received on September 21, 2011, caused him to have a seizure the following day. The petitioner was 18 years old at the time of vaccination. Medical records indicated that the seizure occurred on September 22, 2011, and EMTs administered Valium, which stopped the seizure. J.K. was then taken to North Broward Medical Center. Subsequent medical evaluations, including an EEG and MRI on May 11, 2012, showed normal results, and he experienced no further seizures. A repeat EEG in December 2011 also showed no epileptiform activity. The treating physician, Dr. Ridwan Lin, noted that while the seizure was possibly related to the flu vaccine, J.K. also had a history of anxiety, panic attacks, and episodes of blacking out after smoking marijuana. Dr. Lin's diagnoses included a single episode generalized seizure possibly related to the flu vaccine, and later, falls possibly syncopal spells, advising against marijuana use. Petitioner's medical history also included diagnoses of severe anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and a thyroid disorder. Psychiatric evaluations revealed a history of paranoid type schizophrenia, aggressive behaviors, delusions, paranoia, somatic preoccupations, medication noncompliance, disorganized thought processes, and self-mutilation, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and later schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Petitioner did not file an expert report to support his claim of causation. Furthermore, the public decision states that J.K. did not prove he had more than six months of sequelae, as required by the Vaccine Act, and that several of his complaints, such as anxiety and panic attacks, pre-dated his vaccinations. On May 5, 2015, J.K. moved for a decision based on the existing record. Special Master Laura D. Millman granted this motion and dismissed the case on May 8, 2015, for failure to prove causation. Subsequently, on May 21, 2015, the parties stipulated to attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Millman awarded $27,492.50 in attorneys' fees and $3,865.03 in costs, for a total of $31,357.53, payable by check to J.K. and the Law Office of Myles Jacobson for fees, and to J.K. for costs.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Laura D. Millman","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Myles D. Jacobson","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Office of Myles Jacobson","petitioner_attorney_location":"Northampton, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|myles-jacobson|","firm_canonical_key":"law-office-of-myles-jacobson","package_title":"KUPKA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-0","title":"KUPKA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Redacted) (Originally filed: 5/6/15) regarding 28 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (LJG) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2015-05-08","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":198640,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-1","title":"KUPKA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/21/2015) regarding 36 DECISION Fees Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlj) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2015-06-11","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":241476,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00826-1"}]}