VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00281
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00281
Petitioner: Teresa Bollinger
Filed: 2016-11-03
Decided: 2016-12-02
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2014-10-15
Condition: transverse myelitis
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 240000

AI-assisted case summary:
Teresa Bollinger filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on February 29, 2016. She alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 15, 2014, caused her to develop transverse myelitis (TM) and suffer residual effects for more than six months. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, respondent, denied that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner's TM or any other injury. Despite this denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for an award on November 3, 2016. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $240,000.00, payable to Petitioner, as compensation for all damages. The parties agreed to expedite the entry of judgment by renouncing their right to seek review. Ronald C. Homer represented Petitioner, and Gordon E. Shemin represented Respondent. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Teresa Bollinger alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on October 15, 2014, caused her to develop transverse myelitis (TM) and suffer residual effects for more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for an award, which Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman found reasonable and adopted. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $240,000.00. The public decision does not specify the theory of causation, the mechanism of injury, or name any experts. The parties agreed to expedite judgment by renouncing the right to seek review. Decision date: December 2, 2016. Petitioner's counsel: Ronald C. Homer. Respondent's counsel: Gordon E. Shemin.

Public staged source text:

================================================================================
DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00281-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-12-02
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/3/2016) regarding 23 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (ca1) Copy to parties.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-281V
Filed: November 3, 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED
TERESA BOLLINGER, *
* Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
Petitioner, *
* Joint Stipulation on Damages;
v. * Influenza Vaccine; Transverse
* Myelitis.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Gordon E. Shemin, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.
DECISION1
On February 29, 2016, Teresa Bollinger (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34
(2012). Petitioner alleged that as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on
October 15, 2014, she developed transverse myelitis (“TM”). See Stipulation for Award at ¶ 2,
4, filed Nov. 2, 2016. Petitioner further alleged that she suffered residual effects of these injuries
for more than six months. Id. at ¶ 4.
On November 3, 2016, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision
should be entered awarding compensation to Petitioner. Respondent denies that the flu vaccine
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this decision on the website of the United States Court of Federal
Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. §
3501 note (2012). 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 (2006) (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 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 2 of 7
caused Petitioner’s TM, or any other injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint
stipulation, attached hereto as 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 compensation:
A lump sum of $240,000.00, 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, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’
stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
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

Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 3 of 7

Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 4 of 7

Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 5 of 7

Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 6 of 7

Case 1:16-vv-00281-UNJ Document 27 Filed 12/02/16 Page 7 of 7