VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01544
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01544
Petitioner: Nancy Conley
Filed: 2015-12-17
Decided: 2016-12-14
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2014-10-06
Condition: Bell's Palsy
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 75000

AI-assisted case summary:
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 field:
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.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01544-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-12-14
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/18/2016) regarding 29 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:15-vv-01544-UNJ Document 38 Filed 12/14/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-1544V
Filed: November 18, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
NANCY CONLEY, *
*
Petitioner, * Special Master Gowen
*
v. * Joint Stipulation on Damages;
* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Bell’s Palsy
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop, Attorney at Law, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner.
Sarah C. Duncan, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On December 17, 2015, Nancy Conley (“petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to 34 (2012).
Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 6, 2014,
she developed Bell’s Palsy. Petition at Preamble.
On November 18, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the influenza immunization
is the cause of petitioner’s alleged Bell’s Palsy or any other injury or her current condition.
Stipulation at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in
accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14
days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade
secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b).
2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood
Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§
300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the
Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
1

Case 1:15-vv-01544-UNJ Document 38 Filed 12/14/16 Page 2 of 7
Appendix A. The 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 in compensation:
a. A lump sum of $75,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount
represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-15(a).
Id. at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms
of the parties’ stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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