B.E. v. HHS - Influenza, psoriasis and autoimmune hepatitis (2025)

Teri and Joshua Ennis, on behalf of their minor child B.E., filed a petition for vaccine compensation on September 15, 2016. They alleged that the influenza and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines B.E. received on February 13, 2015, caused B.E. to suffer from psoriasis and autoimmune hepatitis.

These conditions are listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused B.E.'s alleged conditions or any other injury.

Despite maintaining their positions, the parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case. Special Master Christian J.

Moran adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded B.E. a total of $35,492.00.

This amount includes a lump sum of $35,000.00 payable to petitioners as guardians/conservators of B.E.'s estate and $492.00 to reimburse a Medicaid lien for services rendered to B.E. by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Petitioners agreed to endorse the check for the Medicaid lien reimbursement to Equian.

The parties agreed that this compensation covers all damages available under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. The case proceeded as a Table claim.

The stipulation resolved all issues of liability and damages, with the exception of potential attorneys' fees and costs, which the parties agreed to submit for further proceedings. Petitioners and their attorney represented that the compensation is not for items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable.

Payments are subject to statutory fund availability and will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i). The parties agreed that the compensation will be used solely for B.E.'s benefit.

Petitioners represented they were or would become duly authorized guardians/conservators of B.E.'s estate. In return for the payments, the petitioners, individually and on behalf of B.E., released the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from all claims related to the alleged vaccine injuries.

The stipulation stated that it was not an admission by the United States or the Secretary that the vaccines caused B.E.'s alleged injuries. The public decision was issued on January 10, 2025, following a stipulation filed on December 12, 2024.

Amber Diane Wilson represented the petitioner, and Colleen Clemons Hartley represented the respondent. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.