{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938-0","petitioner_identifier":"Robert Willis","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2019-10-07","condition_raw":"Transverse Myelitis","condition_category":"transverse_myelitis","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":30000,"decision_date":"2022-11-15","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:30:31.117333+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Robert Willis alleged that he suffered Transverse Myelitis (TM) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on October 7, 2019. The respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for damages, which was adopted by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. Petitioner was awarded $30,000.00 as compensation for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury. The decision date was November 15, 2022, and the petition was filed on February 17, 2021. Attorneys involved were Andrew Melling for the petitioner and Austin Egan for the respondent.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2021-02-17","case_summary":"Robert Willis filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on February 17, 2021. He alleged that he suffered Transverse Myelitis (TM) as a result of an influenza vaccination he received on October 7, 2019. Mr. Willis further alleged that he experienced residual effects of the condition for more than six months, that no civil action for damages had been filed, and that the vaccine was administered in the United States. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Mr. Willis suffered from TM as a result of the flu immunization or that the vaccine caused him any other injury or his current condition. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages on October 20, 2022. Special Master Daniel T. Horner reviewed the stipulation and found it to be reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. Pursuant to the stipulation, Mr. Willis was awarded a lump sum of $30,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, as compensation for all items of damages. The decision was issued on November 15, 2022. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. Petitioner was represented by Andrew Melling of Burr & Forman LLP, and respondent was represented by Austin Egan of the U.S. Department of Justice.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Robert Willis","petitioner_attorney_name":"Andrew Melling","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Burr & Forman LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Columbia, SC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:44:31","attorney_canonical_keys":"|andrew-melling|","firm_canonical_key":"burr-and-forman","package_title":"WILLIS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938-0","title":"WILLIS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/21/2022) regarding 43 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (mly). Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-11-15","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":786845,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00938-1","title":"WILLIS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/24/2023) regarding 49 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-02-28","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}