Lesa Marie Bowman-Harris v. HHS - Tdap, loss of eyesight, chronic headaches, and bilateral optic neuritis (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On August 30, 2017, Lesa Marie Bowman-Harris filed a petition with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that a Tdap vaccine administered on July 6, 2015, caused her to suffer from loss of eyesight, chronic headaches, and bilateral optic neuritis. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused these conditions.
The parties subsequently filed a stipulation for award on January 23, 2019. Special Master Herbrina Sanders reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court.
The stipulation provided that Petitioner would receive a lump sum of $175,000.00, payable by check, as compensation for all damages available under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. Petitioner was represented by David William Hittle, and Respondent was represented by Lisa Ann Watts.
Judgment was to be entered in accordance with the stipulation, unless a motion for review was filed.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Lesa Marie Bowman-Harris alleged that a Tdap vaccine received on July 6, 2015, caused loss of eyesight, chronic headaches, and bilateral optic neuritis. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a stipulation for award, agreeing to compensation without admitting causation. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, onset of symptoms, clinical details, or treatment. Special Master Herbrina Sanders approved a stipulation for a lump sum award of $175,000.00 for all damages. Petitioner's counsel was David William Hittle, and Respondent's counsel was Lisa Ann Watts. The decision date was January 23, 2019.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01172