Willie Roberts, Jr. v. HHS - Influenza, transverse myelitis (2020)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Derek Roberts, as personal representative of the estate of Willie Roberts, Jr., filed a petition on August 8, 2018, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on September 24, 2014, caused his father to suffer transverse myelitis (TM). The petition further alleged that Mr.
Roberts suffered residual effects from this injury for more than six months. The respondent denied that the vaccine caused or aggravated the alleged injury.
The parties subsequently reached a joint stipulation, which Special Master Christian J. Moran adopted as the decision of the Court.
The stipulation awarded a lump sum payment of $125,000.00, payable to Derek Roberts as Administrator of the Estate of Willie Roberts, Jr., as compensation for all damages. The decision date was September 9, 2020.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical course, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. Petitioner counsel was Theodore J.
Hong of Maglio Christopher & Toale, and respondent counsel was Voris E. Johnson of the United States Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Petitioner alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on September 24, 2014, caused Willie Roberts, Jr. to suffer transverse myelitis (TM), a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Petitioner further alleged that Mr. Roberts suffered residual effects for more than six months. Respondent denied causation or aggravation. The parties reached a stipulation, which was adopted by Special Master Christian J. Moran on September 9, 2020. The stipulation awarded $125,000.00 to the estate of Willie Roberts, Jr. The public decision does not specify the mechanism of injury, name any experts, or detail the evidence considered beyond the stipulation. Petitioner counsel was Theodore J. Hong, and respondent counsel was Voris E. Johnson.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01156