Harvey Walker v. HHS - Influenza, rheumatoid arthritis (2016)

Harvey Walker filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 29, 2014, alleging that a trivalent influenza vaccine administered on or about September 8, 2012, caused him to suffer rheumatoid arthritis. The respondent denied that the vaccine caused petitioner's alleged rheumatoid arthritis or any other injury, and further denied that petitioner's current disabilities were a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.

Nevertheless, the parties filed a joint stipulation on December 5, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded to the petitioner. The Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

Harvey Walker was awarded a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 as compensation for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. Petitioner counsel was Ronald Homer of Conway Homer, P.C., and respondent counsel was Glenn Alexander MacLeod of the U.S.

Department of Justice. The Special Master who issued the decision was Thomas L.

Gowen.