Thomas Worrell v. HHS - Tdap, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (2026)

Thomas Worrell filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging he developed granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) after receiving a Tdap vaccine on February 27, 2020. The case progressed through the filing of medical records and status reports.

Respondent raised concerns about potential pre-vaccination otitis media being a more likely cause of the condition, based on later-discovered records and an expert consultation. Petitioner's counsel subsequently filed a motion to withdraw, citing the inability to obtain an expert to opine on causation and the loss of reasonable basis for the claim.

The court granted the motion for interim attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $40,755.34, finding that the petition was initially filed in good faith with a reasonable basis, and that an interim award was warranted due to counsel's withdrawal. The decision does not rule on the merits of entitlement or causation, focusing solely on the interim fee award.