Vilai Thomas v. HHS - Influenza, transverse myelitis (2019)

Vilai Thomas filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on December 21, 2016, alleging that she suffered transverse myelitis caused by her receipt of the influenza vaccine on October 22, 2015. She further alleged that she experienced residual effects from this injury for more than six months.

The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused her alleged injury or any other injury. Nevertheless, on July 29, 2019, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages.

Special Master Daniel T. Horner found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court.

Pursuant to the stipulation, Vilai Thomas was awarded $60,000.00 as a lump sum payment, payable to the petitioner. This amount represented all remaining compensation for damages available under § 15(a).

The decision was entered on July 29, 2019. Petitioner's counsel was Anne Carrion Toale of Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA.

Respondent's counsel was Jennifer Leigh Reynaud of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.