VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01894
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01894
Petitioner: Elizabeth Watkins
Filed: 2017-12-06
Decided: 2020-12-04
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2016-10-08
Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 36200

AI-assisted case summary:
Elizabeth Watkins filed a petition on December 6, 2017, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. She alleged that she suffered from Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 8, 2016, and that she experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months. The respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner's alleged injury or any other condition. However, both parties agreed to settle the case through a stipulation filed on October 16, 2020. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran reviewed the stipulation and found it to be reasonable, adopting it as the decision. The stipulation awarded Elizabeth Watkins a lump sum of $36,200.00, payable by check to Petitioner, as compensation for all damages. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. The attorneys involved were Leah V. Durant for the Petitioner and Colleen C. Hartley for the Respondent.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Elizabeth Watkins alleged SIRVA following an influenza vaccine on October 8, 2016, with residual effects lasting over six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties stipulated to settle, and Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation as the decision. The award was $36,200.00. The theory of causation is based on the Vaccine Injury Table (SIRVA). The public decision does not detail the mechanism of injury or name any experts. Attorneys for Petitioner were Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, and for Respondent was the U.S. Dep’t of Justice. Decision date was December 4, 2020.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01894-0
Date issued/filed: 2020-12-04
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/16/2020) regarding 54 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (omg) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-01894-UNJ Document 57 Filed 12/04/20 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-1894V
(Not to be published)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Chief Special Master Corcoran
ELIZABETH WATKINS *
*
Petitioner, * Filed: October 16, 2020
*
v. *
* Decision by Stipulation; Damages.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leah V. Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.
Colleen C. Hartley, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On December 6, 2017, Elizabeth Watkins filed a petition seeking compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleges that she
suffered from Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her
October 8, 2016, receipt of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine. Moreover, Petitioner alleges that she
experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.
1 This decision will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 (2012). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the
parties may object to the decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine
Rule 18(b), each party has fourteen 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). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to the public. Id.
2 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
Individual section references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act (but will omit that statutory prefix).

Case 1:17-vv-01894-UNJ Document 57 Filed 12/04/20 Page 2 of 2
Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner to suffer a SIRVA table injury or
any other injury or condition. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated
positions, agreed in a stipulation (filed on October 16, 2020) that the issues before them could be
settled, and that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation.
I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation
(as attached hereto) is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the
terms set forth therein.
The stipulation awards:
• A lump sum of $36,200.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
Stipulation ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under Section 15(a) of the Act.
I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by each filing (either jointly or separately)
a notice renouncing their right to seek review.
2