Lashaawn Johnson v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2018)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Lashawn Johnson filed a petition on January 11, 2017, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. She alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on September 23, 2015, and that her injuries lasted more than six months.
The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused her injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on March 19, 2018, agreeing to an award of compensation.
Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable. The decision awarded Lashawn Johnson a lump sum of $35,000.00, payable directly to the petitioner, as compensation for all damages.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. Petitioner was represented by John Caldwell of Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, and respondent was represented by Althea Walker Davis of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Lashawn Johnson alleged a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccine on September 23, 2015, with injuries lasting more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation, which was approved by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey on June 7, 2018. The award was a lump sum of $35,000.00. The theory of causation is based on the Vaccine Injury Table (SIRVA). The public decision does not detail specific medical evidence, expert testimony, or the mechanism of injury beyond the Table classification. Petitioner counsel was John Caldwell, and respondent counsel was Althea Walker Davis.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00040