Robert Thaner v. HHS - Influenza, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (2025)

Robert Thaner, an adult, received an influenza vaccine on September 25, 2019. His estate, represented by Anthony Musto (who substituted for Nathaniel Shipp in December 2023), filed a petition on August 1, 2022, alleging that Thaner suffered chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) that was caused or significantly aggravated by the vaccine.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Thaner's alleged CIDP, or any other injury, or his death. The parties subsequently filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation.

Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation awarded the estate $80,000.00 as a lump sum, to be paid via ACH deposit to Petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.

Additionally, the estate was awarded a lump sum of $35,000.00 to reimburse a lien from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services. This reimbursement was to be paid in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and the State of Connecticut DAS – Collection Services, with Petitioner agreeing to endorse the check to the State.

This total award of $115,000.00 represents compensation for all damages available under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The decision was based on this stipulation, and judgment was to be entered accordingly, with the parties having renounced the right to seek review.