William Ranks v. HHS - Influenza, polymyalgia rheumatica (2026)

William Ranks filed a petition for compensation on November 24, 2020, alleging that he suffered from polymyalgia rheumatica as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on November 3, 2019. The case has been pending for several years, involving the submission of medical records and expert reports from both parties.

On November 16, 2023, Mr. Ranks filed a motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs totaling $61,170.20.

Respondent deferred to the Special Master regarding the statutory requirements for the award. On December 12, 2023, the Special Master granted the motion, awarding $60,495.20 in interim attorneys' fees and costs, noting the protracted nature of the proceedings and the accumulation of fees.

A subsequent decision on January 28, 2026, awarded a second interim payment of $34,091.98 for work completed by former counsel Andrew Downing, as Mr. Downing had withdrawn from the case.

The court found that the statutory requirements for an interim award were met and that the requested fees and costs were reasonable, despite some reductions for duplicative paralegal work in the first award.