VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01007
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01007
Petitioner: Patricia Chaffin
Filed: 2015-09-11
Decided: 2017-04-07
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2012-09-18
Condition: left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity and brachial neuritis
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 75000

AI-assisted case summary:
Patricia Chaffin filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on September 11, 2015. She alleged that she suffered debilitating left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity, and brachial neuritis as a result of receiving an influenza vaccination on September 18, 2012. Ms. Chaffin further alleged that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu immunization caused her alleged injuries. On December 7, 2016, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Patricia Chaffin was awarded a lump sum of $75,000.00 as compensation for all items of damages. Ramon Rodriguez, III, of Rawls, McNelis & Mitchell, P.C., represented the petitioner, and Ryan Daniel Pyles of the U.S. Department of Justice represented the respondent. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Patricia Chaffin alleged that an influenza vaccination administered on September 18, 2012, caused her to suffer left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity, and brachial neuritis, with residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent denied causation. The parties subsequently filed a joint stipulation for compensation, which was adopted by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. The stipulation resulted in a $75,000.00 lump sum award. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury. Petitioner was represented by Ramon Rodriguez, III, and respondent by Ryan Daniel Pyles.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01007-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-04-07
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/07/2016) regarding 35 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-01007-UNJ Document 39 Filed 04/07/17 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-1007V
Filed: December 7, 2016
UNPUBLISHED
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PATRICIA CHAFFIN, *
*
Petitioner, * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Left
* Shoulder Pain; Weakness; Encumbered
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Dexterity, Brachial Neuritis; Special
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Processing Unit (“SPU”)
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ramon Rodriguez, III, Rawls, McNelis & Mitchell, P.C., Richmond, VA, for petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On September 11, 2015, Patricia Chaffin (“petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C.
§300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered debilitating
left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity and brachial neuritis as a result of
receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on September 18, 2012. Petition at 1;
Stipulation, filed December 7, 2016, at ¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she
suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Petition at 8-9;
Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that the flu immunization is the cause of
petitioner’s alleged left shoulder pain, weakness, encumbered dexterity, and brachial
neuritis, and/or any other injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
Nevertheless, on December 7, 2016, the parties filed the attached joint
stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:15-vv-01007-UNJ Document 39 Filed 04/07/17 Page 2 of 7
undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court
in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
A lump sum of $75,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of
damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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