E.A. v. HHS - Influenza, pityriasis lichenoides chronica (2023)

On December 19, 2018, Dennis and Bonnie Andric, as parents of the minor E.A., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. They alleged that E.A. developed pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on November 2, 2017.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the influenza vaccine caused E.A.'s PLC or any other injury, and denied that her condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Despite maintaining their respective positions, both parties agreed to settle the case.

Special Master Katherine E. Oler reviewed the joint stipulation filed on January 10, 2023, found it to be reasonable, and adopted it as the court's decision.

The stipulation awarded E.A. a lump sum of $30,240.48, payable to her estate, as compensation for all damages available under the program. Additionally, a lump sum of $59.52 was awarded to reimburse a Medicaid lien for services rendered to E.A. by the State of New Jersey, payable jointly to the petitioners and the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

The decision was entered on February 3, 2023. The public decision does not describe E.A.'s specific clinical presentation, onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the specific mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the condition.

The names of petitioner counsel were Ronald Craig Homer and respondent counsel was Joseph Lewis.