{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631-1","petitioner_identifier":"Edward A. Sokol","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":58.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2014-01-22","condition_raw":"stroke, specifically a subarachnoid hemorrhage","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2020-02-04","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:57:34.241220+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":10,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Edward A. Sokol, age 58, received an influenza vaccine on January 22, 2014. He alleged this caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) diagnosed around February 1-2, 2014. Petitioner's expert, neurologist George A. Small, proposed a theory that the flu vaccine caused an immune response leading to cytokine production, inflammation, and subsequent aneurysm rupture. Respondent's expert, vascular neurologist Steven Messé, opined that Dr. Small was less qualified in stroke than himself. Dr. Small's theory was found to have weaknesses, including insufficient evidence that inflammation directly causes stroke, the theory being too generalized, and a lack of extrapolation from flu infection (studied by Backes) to flu vaccination. Epidemiological studies presented by Dr. Messé did not show an increased risk of stroke from flu vaccination. The temporal relationship was also not established; while Dr. Small suggested a 1-4 day window for cytokine response, Mr. Sokol's flu-like symptoms occurred 4-8 days post-vaccination and speech problems 10 days post-vaccination. Dr. Small's attempt to date the bleed using hemosiderin findings was countered by Dr. Messé's testimony that hemosiderin formation typically takes at least two weeks, suggesting the bleed occurred before vaccination. Alternative risk factors, including likely pre-existing hypertension (inferred from post-stroke medication) and cold weather, were also identified by Dr. Messé and not persuasively countered by petitioner. Special Master Christian J. Moran denied the claim, finding petitioner failed to prove causation by a preponderance of the evidence. Attorneys involved were Jeffrey A. Golvash for petitioner and Voris E. Johnson, Jr. for respondent. Decision date: February 4, 2020.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2020-01-09","case_summary":"Petitioner Edward A. Sokol, born in 1956, filed a claim for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 9, 2020, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 22, 2014, caused his subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Mr. Sokol contended that the vaccination led to his stroke. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied the claim. Mr. Sokol presented expert testimony from neurologist George A. Small, while the respondent presented expert testimony from vascular neurologist Steven Messé. Special Master Christian J. Moran presided over the case. The Special Master found that Mr. Sokol failed to meet his burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence. The decision was based on several factors: the superior qualifications of Dr. Messé in the field of stroke compared to Dr. Small; weaknesses in Dr. Small's proposed medical theory linking the vaccine to the SAH; the failure to establish a proximate temporal relationship between the vaccination and the injury; and the presence of alternative risk factors for stroke. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests beyond imaging studies, or treatments other than the surgical clipping of the aneurysm and subsequent rehabilitation. Mr. Sokol's claim was denied, and no award was granted.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Jeffrey A. Golvash","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Brenna, Robins & Daley, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Pittsburgh, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|jeffrey-golvash|","firm_canonical_key":"brenna-robins-and-daley","package_title":"SOKOL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631-0","title":"SOKOL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/28/2019) regarding 50 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (hh) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-09-26","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631-1","title":"SOKOL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/09/2020) regarding 57 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (hh) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-02-04","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":355742,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01631-1"}]}