VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00139
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00139
Petitioner: LAWRENCE CELIC, as personal representative of the estate of JUDITH CELIC
Filed: 2019-05-13
Decided: 2019-05-13
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2014-10-16
Condition: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 255000

AI-assisted case summary:
Lawrence Celic, as personal representative of the estate of Judith Celic, filed a claim on May 13, 2019, alleging that Judith Celic suffered from Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) caused by an influenza vaccine she received on October 16, 2014. The claim further alleged that Ms. Celic experienced residual effects from this injury, which ultimately led to her death on May 26, 2018. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Celic's CIDP or her death. Despite the denial, the parties reached a stipulation to resolve the matter, which was filed on May 10, 2019. Special Master Laura D. Millman reviewed the stipulation and found its terms to be reasonable. The court adopted the stipulation and awarded a lump sum of $255,000.00 for all damages, to be paid via check to the petitioner. The decision was issued on May 13, 2019. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation. Petitioner was represented by Ronald C. Homer, and respondent was represented by Traci R. Patton.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that Judith Celic received an influenza vaccine on October 16, 2014, and subsequently developed Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), which caused residual effects leading to her death on May 26, 2018. Respondent denied that the vaccine caused the CIDP or death. The parties reached a stipulation to settle the case. The Special Master adopted the stipulation, awarding $255,000.00 for all damages. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury or death.

Public staged source text:

================================================================================
DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00139-0
Date issued/filed: 2019-06-07
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 5/13/2019) regarding 54 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Laura D. Millman. (et) Service on parties made.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-139V
Filed: May 13, 2019
Not to be Published
*************************************
LAWRENCE CELIC, as personal *
representative of the estate of JUDITH *
CELIC, deceased *
Damages decision based on
*
stipulation; influenza (“flu”)
Petitioner, *
vaccine; Chronic Inflammatory
v. *
Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
*
(“CIDP”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*************************************
Ronald C. Homer, Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On May 10, 2019, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle
this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that Judith Celic suffered from
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) that was caused by her receipt
of influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 16, 2014. Petitioner further alleges that Ms. Celic
experienced the residual effects of this injury that led to her death on May 26, 2018.
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)
(Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the decision
will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of
the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or
financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information whose
disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed,
petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to delete such information prior to the document’s disclosure.
If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned categories
listed above, the special master shall delete such material from public access.

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 2 of 7
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner to suffer CIDP or any other injury and
further denies that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Celic’s death. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to
resolve this matter informally.
The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby
adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards a lump sum of
$255,000.00, representing compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-15(a) (2012). The award shall be in the form of a check for $255,000.00 made payable
to petitioner.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 13, 2019 /s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 3 of 7

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 4 of 7

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 5 of 7

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 6 of 7

Case 1:17-vv-00139-UNJ Document 57 Filed 06/07/19 Page 7 of 7