Pauline Anita Gunnarson v. HHS - Influenza, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccination (SIRVA) (2019)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Pauline Anita Gunnarson filed a petition for compensation on April 26, 2018, alleging she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccination (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 16, 2017. Ms.
Gunnarson stated the vaccine was administered in the United States and that she experienced residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms.
Gunnarson sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the flu vaccine caused her condition. Despite these positions, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle the case.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation, awarding Pauline Anita Gunnarson $25,000.00 as compensation for all damages.
This amount represents a compromise of the parties' respective positions on liability and damages. Petitioner was represented by Douglas Lee Burdette of Burdette Law, PLLC, and respondent was represented by Alexis B.
Babcock of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The decision was issued on December 27, 2019.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Pauline Anita Gunnarson received an influenza vaccine on October 16, 2017, and alleged a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccination (SIRVA). Respondent denied a SIRVA Table injury and causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation to settle the case, agreeing to an award of $25,000.00 for all damages. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation on December 27, 2019. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, expert testimony, or detailed clinical facts. Petitioner was represented by Douglas Lee Burdette and respondent by Alexis B. Babcock.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00603