Rebecca Huffman v. HHS - Influenza, right Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2020)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Rebecca Huffman filed a petition for vaccine compensation on October 24, 2018, alleging she suffered a right Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) from an influenza vaccine she received on January 13, 2017. She claimed the residual effects of the injury lasted for more than six months.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms. Huffman suffered a SIRVA Table injury or that the flu vaccine caused her condition.
Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as its decision.
Ms. Huffman was awarded a lump sum of $72,500.00, which represents compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.
This decision was based on the joint stipulation and was issued on June 29, 2020, by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran.
Petitioner counsel was Ronald Craig Homer, and respondent counsel was Christine Mary Becer. The public decision does not describe the specific onset, symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses involved in this case.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Rebecca Huffman received an influenza vaccine on January 13, 2017, and alleged a right Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) with residual effects lasting more than six months. Respondent denied a SIRVA Table injury or that the vaccine caused the condition. The parties filed a joint stipulation for compensation. The Special Master adopted the stipulation, awarding $72,500.00. The theory of causation is based on a Table injury for SIRVA, though respondent denied this. The public decision does not detail the specific mechanism, expert testimony, or evidence presented beyond the stipulation. The award was a lump sum for all damages. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued the decision on June 29, 2020. Petitioner counsel was Ronald Craig Homer, and respondent counsel was Christine Mary Becer.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01646