Zania Lewis v. HHS - Influenza, tinnitus, earaches, hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo, loss of equilibrium, clouding of consciousness, and migraine headaches (2020)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Zania Lewis received influenza vaccinations on August 20, 2012, and January 14, 2015. She alleged that these vaccines caused tinnitus, earaches, hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo, loss of equilibrium, clouding of consciousness, and migraine headaches, with residual effects lasting more than six months.
The case proceeded as a Table claim, as influenza vaccines are listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Respondent denied causation.
The parties reached a settlement, and the Special Master adopted their stipulation, awarding Ms. Lewis $38,000 in compensation for all damages.
Subsequently, Ms. Lewis sought attorney fees and costs.
The Special Master awarded $160,882.10 in attorney fees and costs after reducing some expert hourly rates and hours. Ms.
Lewis filed a motion for review of the Special Master's decision regarding attorney fees and costs, which was partially granted, remanding the hourly rates for two experts for re-evaluation. The Court affirmed the Special Master's decisions regarding Dr.
Akbari's costs and the hours for Drs. Charleston and Djalilian.