Janell Ward v. HHS - Influenza, transverse myelitis (2024)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Janell Ward filed a petition on February 1, 2019, alleging that she suffered transverse myelitis as a result of an influenza vaccine received on November 1, 2016. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused any of Petitioner's alleged injuries.
On July 9, 2024, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation to Petitioner. The stipulation stated that Petitioner would receive a lump sum of $245,000.00 as compensation for all damages.
Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court, awarding the agreed-upon compensation. Judgment was to be entered in accordance with the terms of the stipulation.
Petitioner was represented by Ronald Craig Homer of Conway, Homer, P.C., and Respondent was represented by Lauren Kells of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Janell Ward alleged that she suffered transverse myelitis following an influenza vaccine administered on November 1, 2016. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation for compensation, agreeing to a lump sum award of $245,000.00 for all damages. The Special Master adopted the stipulation. The public decision does not specify the theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury. The outcome was a compensated award of $245,000.00. The decision was based on a stipulation filed on July 9, 2024, and adopted by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. Petitioner's counsel was Ronald Craig Homer, and Respondent's counsel was Lauren Kells.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00192