Cathryn Mong v. HHS - Influenza, narcolepsy (2017)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Petitioner Cathryn Mong filed a claim alleging that she developed narcolepsy as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on September 4, 2012. Respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused her condition.
Despite the denial, the parties reached a stipulation to settle the case. Special Master Laura D.
Millman reviewed the stipulation and found its terms to be reasonable. The court adopted the stipulation and awarded Ms.
Mong $125,000.00 in compensation, representing all damages available under the program. The award was to be paid as a lump sum check payable to the petitioner.
This decision was issued on September 14, 2017. Clifford J.
Shoemaker represented the petitioner, and Christine M. Becer represented the respondent.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert testimony.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Cathryn Mong alleged that her September 4, 2012 influenza vaccine caused her narcolepsy. Respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation to settle the case, and Special Master Laura D. Millman adopted the stipulation, awarding $125,000.00 in total damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical evidence, expert testimony, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury. The award was based on the parties' agreement, not a finding of causation by the Special Master. Petitioner was represented by Clifford J. Shoemaker, and respondent by Christine M. Becer. The decision date was September 14, 2017.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00955