Andres Spinetti v. HHS - Meningococcal, autoimmune neuroretinitis and / or optic neuritis (2019)

Andres Spinetti, substituted as petitioner upon reaching the age of majority, filed a petition for compensation on July 14, 2017, alleging that a meningococcal vaccine administered on or about April 9, 2015, caused him to suffer autoimmune neuroretinitis and/or optic neuritis, with residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused or aggravated the petitioner's condition.

The parties subsequently filed a joint stipulation agreeing to compensation. Special Master Christian J.

Moran reviewed and adopted the stipulation. The decision awarded Andres Spinetti a total of $80,640.57.

This amount comprised a lump sum of $75,000.00 for general damages, payable to the petitioner, and a lump sum of $5,640.57 for past unreimbursed expenses, payable to the petitioner and his parents, Livania Zavala and Nelson J. Spinetti.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details of the condition, diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received. The attorneys involved were Ramon Rodriguez III for the petitioner and Lara A.

Englund for the respondent. The case was compensated based on the stipulation.