VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01570
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01570
Petitioner: Christine Cossette
Filed: 2020-04-19
Decided: 2022-05-10
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2018-07-24
Condition: complex regional pain syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 95000

AI-assisted case summary:
Christine Cossette filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Program on April 19, 2020, alleging that she developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as a result of receiving a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (Tdap) vaccination on July 24, 2018. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused her injuries. However, the parties reached a stipulation to settle the case. The stipulation provided for a lump sum award of $95,000.00 to compensate Ms. Cossette for all damages. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation and awarded the compensation. The decision was issued on May 10, 2022. Petitioner counsel was Ronald Craig Homer. Respondent counsel was Andrew Henning. The public decision does not describe the onset, symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of causation.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Christine Cossette alleged that a Tdap vaccination on July 24, 2018, caused her to develop complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation for award, with the respondent agreeing to compensation despite denying causation. The stipulation provided for a lump sum of $95,000.00 to petitioner. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation on May 10, 2022. The public text does not specify the theory of causation, the mechanism, or any expert testimony.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01570-0
Date issued/filed: 2022-05-10
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/19/2022) regarding 37 DECISION for Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (slw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:20-vv-01570-UNJ Document 41 Filed 05/10/22 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: April 19, 2022
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHRISTINE COSSETTE, * UNPUBLISHED
*
* No. 20-1570V
Petitioner, *
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Stipulation for Award;
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
* -pertussis (“Tdap”); complex
* regional pain syndrome
* (“CRPS”).
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.
Andrew Henning, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
DECISION FOR STIPULATION1
On November 12, 2020, Christine Cossette (“petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petitioner alleged that as a result of
receiving the Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination on July 24, 2018, she
developed complex regional pain syndrome (“CRPS”). Petition (ECF No. 1).
On April 19, 2022, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation (“Stip.”) (ECF No. 36). Respondent
denies that the Tdap vaccine is the cause of petitioner’s alleged injuries, or any other injury or
her current condition. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties
1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the opinion is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting redaction “of any information furnished by that party:
(1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that
includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). “An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
decision.” Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
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-1 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.

Case 1:20-vv-01570-UNJ Document 41 Filed 05/10/22 Page 2 of 2
now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered
awarding the compensation to the petitioner according to the terms of the stipulation attached
hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7.
The stipulation provides:
1) A lump sum of $95,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damage that would be available under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
I adopt the parties’ stipulation attached hereto, and award compensation in the amount
and on the terms set forth therein. The Clerk of the Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in
accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Thomas L. Gowen
Thomas L. Gowen
Special Master
3 Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).
2