Nancy Conley v. HHS - Influenza, Bell's Palsy (2016)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Nancy Conley filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on December 17, 2015. She alleged that she developed Bell's Palsy as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on October 6, 2014.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused her condition. Despite the denial, the parties reached a joint stipulation for damages.
Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding Ms.
Conley a lump sum of $75,000.00. This amount was intended to compensate for all damages available under the program.
The decision was finalized on December 14, 2016, with judgment entered according to the stipulation. Petitioner was represented by Jeffrey S.
Pop, and respondent was represented by Sarah C. Duncan.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Nancy Conley alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 6, 2014, caused her to develop Bell's Palsy. The respondent denied causation. The parties entered into a joint stipulation for damages, which was adopted by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. The stipulation resulted in an award of $75,000.00 to Ms. Conley. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury. The award was a lump sum for all damages.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01544