Lisa Ahern v. HHS - Influenza, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2023)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Lisa Ahern filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 25, 2020, alleging she suffered a left Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 17, 2017. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the flu vaccine caused petitioner's SIRVA or any other injury, and also denied that her current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.
Despite maintaining these positions, the parties reached a stipulation to settle the issues. Under the terms of the stipulation, the court entered a decision awarding Lisa Ahern $5,000 as a lump sum for all damages.
This amount is intended to compensate for all damages available under the program. The decision was issued on November 3, 2023, following the stipulation.
Petitioner was represented by Andrew Downing of Downing, Allison & Jorgenson, and respondent was represented by Catherine E. Stolar of the U.S.
Department of Justice. Special Master Thomas L.
Gowen issued the decision.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Lisa Ahern alleged a left Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccine administered on October 17, 2017. The respondent denied causation and sequela. The parties reached a stipulation to settle the case, with the respondent agreeing to a decision awarding compensation. The public text does not describe the specific medical theory of causation, expert testimony, or the mechanism of injury. The stipulation resulted in a decision on November 3, 2023, awarding petitioner $5,000 as a lump sum for all damages. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen issued the decision. Petitioner's counsel was Andrew Downing, and respondent's counsel was Catherine E. Stolar.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00338