{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580-0","petitioner_identifier":"Heath Bender","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":null,"vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2016-11-08","condition_raw":"small fiber neuropathy","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":160000,"decision_date":"2022-10-28","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T05:07:01.024705+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":null,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Heath Bender alleged that the influenza vaccine received on November 8, 2016, caused small fiber neuropathy (SFN) lasting more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a stipulation for award, agreeing to compensation without admitting causation. Special Master Herbrina Sanders adopted the stipulation. Petitioner received a lump sum award of $160,000.00 for all damages. Petitioner's counsel was Joel H. Lichtenstein, and Respondent's counsel was Ryan D. Pyles. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-04-23","case_summary":"Heath Bender filed a petition on April 23, 2018, alleging that the influenza vaccine he received on November 8, 2016, caused him to suffer from small fiber neuropathy (SFN) that lasted for more than six months. The respondent denied that the flu immunization caused Petitioner's alleged SFN or any other injury. On October 11, 2022, the parties filed a stipulation agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to Petitioner. The stipulation stated that Petitioner would receive a lump sum of $160,000.00 as compensation for all damages. Special Master Herbrina Sanders found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court, ordering that judgment be entered in accordance with the terms of the stipulation. Petitioner was represented by Joel H. Lichtenstein, and Respondent was represented by Ryan D. Pyles. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert testimony.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Herbrina Sanders Young","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Joel H. Lichtenstein","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder","petitioner_attorney_location":"Bridgeport, CT","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|joel-lichtenstein|","firm_canonical_key":"koskoff-koskoff-and-bieder","package_title":"BENDER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580-0","title":"BENDER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/28/2022) regarding 67 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (rig) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-11-21","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":727641,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00580-1","title":"BENDER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/21/2023) regarding 78 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (rig) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-05-31","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}