VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00556
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00556
Petitioner: Hannah L. Steffens
Filed: 2019-04-15
Decided: 2023-04-03
Vaccine: HPV
Vaccination date: 2016-07-21
Condition: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (“POTS”), sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 50000

AI-assisted case summary:
Hannah L. Steffens, through her parents initially, filed a petition on April 15, 2019, alleging that she suffered from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder as a result of receiving a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and a meningococcal vaccine (MCV) on July 21, 2016. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused or significantly aggravated Petitioner's alleged conditions and denied that her current disabilities were a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Despite the respondent's denial, the parties reached a stipulation for an award of compensation. The stipulation recommended that Hannah L. Steffens receive a lump sum of $6,300.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses, payable to Petitioner and Anne Steffens, and a lump sum of $43,700.00 for all other damages, payable to Petitioner. The total award amounted to $50,000.00. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation to be reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court, ordering judgment to be entered accordingly. The decision was filed on April 3, 2023. Petitioner's counsel was Lawrence Gene Michel, and respondent's counsel was Mallori Browne Openchowski. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, or any expert testimony.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that a July 21, 2016, administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and a meningococcal vaccine (MCV) caused or aggravated her conditions of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation for compensation, and the Special Master adopted the stipulation as the decision of the Court. The stipulation recommended an award of $6,300.00 for unreimbursed medical expenses and $43,700.00 for all other damages, totaling $50,000.00. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, any medical experts, or the mechanism of injury.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00556-0
Date issued/filed: 2023-04-03
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/9/2023) regarding 94 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:19-vv-00556-UNJ Document 101 Filed 04/03/23 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: March 9, 2023
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HANNAH L. STEFFENS, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * No. 19-556V
*
v. * Special Master Dorsey
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; Human
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Papillomavirus (“HPV”) Vaccine;
* Meningococcal Vaccine (“MCV”); Postural
Respondent. * Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
* (“POTS”); Sleep Apnea; Major Depressive
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Disorder.
Lawrence Gene Michel, Kennedy Berkley, Salina, KS, for Petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1
On April 15, 2019, Hannah L. Steffens (“Petitioner”)2 filed a petition in the National
Vaccine Injury Program3 alleging that she suffered from postural orthostatic tachycardia
syndrome (“POTS”), sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder as a result of a human
papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccine and a meningococcal vaccine (“MCV”) she received on July
21, 2016. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1).
1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned is required to post it 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. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b),
Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure
of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such
material from public access.
2 This case was originally filed by Petitioner’s parents. The case caption was amended once
Petitioner reached the age of majority.
3 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended,
42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012) (“Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). All citations in this Decision
to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa.
1

Case 1:19-vv-00556-UNJ Document 101 Filed 04/03/23 Page 2 of 7
On March 9, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of
compensation to Petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 93). Respondent denies that the HPV and
MCV vaccines caused or significantly aggravated Petitioner’s alleged POTS, sleep apnea,
depressive disorder, or any other injury and further denies that her current disabilities are a
sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation,
attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as
the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
The parties stipulate that Petitioner shall receive the following compensation:
(1) A lump sum of $6,300.00 representing reimbursement of unreimbursed medical
expenses, in the form of a check payable to jointly to Petitioner and Anne
Steffens; and
(2) A lump sum of $43,700.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner.
This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Stipulation at ¶ 8.
The undersigned approves the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation.
Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the stipulation.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of
Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora B. Dorsey
Nora B. Dorsey
Special Master
4 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of
notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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