{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498-0","petitioner_identifier":"Fredric Kerns","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2015-03-16","condition_raw":"Bell's palsy","condition_category":"bells_palsy","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":87500,"decision_date":"2020-01-09","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:46:23.512770+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Fredric Kerns alleged that he developed Bell's palsy as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on March 16, 2015. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation to settle the case, agreeing to an award of $87,500.00. The Special Master adopted the stipulation as the decision. The public text does not specify the theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2019-06-17","case_summary":"Fredric Kerns filed a petition on June 17, 2019, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He alleged that he developed Bell's palsy as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on March 16, 2015. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccination caused Mr. Kerns' alleged Bell's palsy or any other injury. Despite maintaining their respective positions, both parties agreed to settle the case and enter a decision awarding compensation. Special Master Katherine E. Oler reviewed the file and found the parties' stipulation to be reasonable, adopting it as the decision. The stipulation awarded Mr. Kerns a lump sum of $87,500.00, representing compensation for all damages available under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The decision directed the clerk of the court to enter judgment accordingly, unless a motion for review was filed. Ronald Craig Homer represented the petitioner, and Althea Walker Davis represented the respondent. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Katherine E. Oler","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald Craig Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"KERNS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498-0","title":"KERNS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/17/19) regarding 58 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Special Master Katherine E. Oler. (sl) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-01-09","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":748890,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01498-1","title":"KERNS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/18/2020) regarding 65 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Katherine E. Oler. (nh) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-03-18","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}