Keith Saunders v. HHS - Influenza, polymyalgia rheumatica (2016)

Keith Saunders filed a petition for compensation on March 6, 2015, alleging that the influenza vaccine he received on September 16, 2013, caused him to develop polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccination caused Mr.

Saunders's PMR or any other injury. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for damages, which the Special Master adopted as the decision of the Court.

Mr. Saunders was awarded a lump sum payment of $30,000.00 to compensate for all damages.

Separately, the Special Master awarded $21,000.00 in attorneys' fees and costs. This award was split between two attorneys who represented Mr.

Saunders at different stages of the case: $8,000.00 was made payable to petitioner and his attorney Thomas P. Gallagher, and $13,000.00 was made payable to petitioner and his attorney Carol L.

Gallagher. The decision on damages and the award of attorneys' fees and costs were both issued on March 24, 2016.

The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, or treatments. The specific mechanism of causation was not detailed in the public decision.