Maria Ramos v. HHS - Influenza, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (2025)

Maria Ramos filed a petition for compensation on October 29, 2020, alleging that she suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 30, 2017. The case has been pending for nearly five years, with settlement negotiations proving protracted due to the complicated nature of the alleged damages and the need for life care planners.

The parties reached an impasse in settlement discussions, and the court set a briefing schedule for a ruling on entitlement and damages. Respondent argued that entitlement must be resolved before damages, as the GBS diagnosis was in dispute and would likely require expert retention.

The Special Master reviewed Petitioner's motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs, finding that the petition was brought in good faith with a reasonable basis. Given the protracted nature of the proceedings, the need to retain experts, and the accumulation of fees and costs, an interim award was deemed appropriate.

The court awarded interim attorneys' fees and costs totaling $42,138.64, consisting of $27,764.35 in fees and $14,374.29 in costs, to be paid to Petitioner's counsel.