VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00314
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00314
Petitioner: Debra Centifonti
Filed: 2020-03-20
Decided: 2022-04-18
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2017-11-30
Condition: Bell's palsy
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 30000

AI-assisted case summary:
Debra Centifonti filed a petition on March 20, 2020, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on November 30, 2017, caused her to suffer Bell's palsy. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused petitioner's alleged injury or any other injury, and denied that petitioner's current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. The parties subsequently filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey reviewed the stipulation, found it reasonable, and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $30,000.00, payable to petitioner, as compensation for all damages. The decision was based on the stipulation, and judgment was to be entered in accordance with its terms. Petitioner's counsel was Emily B. Ashe of Anapol Weiss, and respondent's counsel was Naseem Kourosh of the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision was filed on April 18, 2022.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Debra Centifonti alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on November 30, 2017, caused her to suffer Bell's palsy. Respondent denied causation. The parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation, which Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found reasonable and adopted. Petitioner was awarded $30,000.00 for all damages. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, onset, symptoms, tests, treatments, or mechanism of injury. The decision was filed on April 18, 2022, with attorneys Emily B. Ashe for petitioner and Naseem Kourosh for respondent.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00314-0
Date issued/filed: 2022-05-25
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/18/2022) regarding 53 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mca) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-00314-UNJ Document 55 Filed 05/25/22 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: April 18, 2022
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DEBRA CENTIFONTI, * UNPUBLISHED
*
Petitioner, * No. 20-314V
*
v. * Special Master Dorsey
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; Influenza
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“Flu”) Vaccine; Bell’s Palsy.
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Emily B. Ashe, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.
Naseem Kourosh, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1
On March 20, 2020, Debra Centifonti (“petitioner”) filed a petition in the National
Vaccine Injury Program2 alleging that as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered
on November 30, 2017, she suffered Bell’s palsy. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1).
On April 18, 2022, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of
compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 52). Respondent denies that the flu vaccine
caused petitioner’s alleged injury, or any other injury, and denies that petitioner’s current
condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to
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 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 1:20-vv-00314-UNJ Document 55 Filed 05/25/22 Page 2 of 2
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 $30,000.00 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.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Special Master
3 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