Joan Walton v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (2016)

Joan Walton filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on August 11, 2016, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccination on September 15, 2014. Petitioner stated the immunization was administered in the United States, she experienced residual effects for over six months, and had no prior award or settlement for this condition.

The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused her injury. Despite this denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on August 9, 2016, agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

The Chief Special Master, Nora Beth Dorsey, found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the court's decision. Joan Walton was awarded a lump sum of $127,500.00, representing compensation for all available items of damages.

Petitioner counsel was Ronald Homer of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., and respondent counsel was Douglas Ross of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.