Gregory Hooper v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Gregory Hooper filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 4, 2017, alleging he developed a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an October 20, 2015 influenza vaccination. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report on December 7, 2017, conceding that Mr.
Hooper's injury was caused in fact by the flu vaccine and that he met the statutory requirements for compensation. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey issued a ruling on entitlement on December 8, 2017, finding Mr.
Hooper entitled to compensation based on the respondent's concession. A damages ruling was issued on March 20, 2019, awarding Mr.
Hooper $185,000.00 for actual pain and suffering, $45,000.00 for future pain and suffering, and $37,921.48 for lost wages. The parties subsequently agreed that the net present value of the future pain and suffering award was $42,113.39.
On April 3, 2019, Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a final decision awarding Gregory Hooper a total lump sum payment of $265,034.87, comprising $185,000.00 for actual pain and suffering, $42,113.39 for future pain and suffering (net present value), and $37,921.48 for lost wages. The decision was published on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website.
Petitioner was represented by Shealene Priscilla Mancuso of Muller Brazil, LLP, and respondent was represented by Glenn Alexander MacLeod of the U.S. Department of Justice.