VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00080
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00080
Petitioner: Jonnie Brown
Filed: 2022-01-27
Decided: 2025-05-16
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2020-09-20
Condition: Bell's palsy
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 60000

AI-assisted case summary:
Jonnie Brown, the Petitioner, filed a petition on January 27, 2022, alleging that she developed Bell's palsy as a result of receiving an influenza vaccine on September 20, 2020. The Respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused Petitioner's condition or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties reached a stipulation on May 16, 2025, recommending an award of compensation to Petitioner. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation to be reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Petitioner was awarded a lump sum of $60,000.00, to be paid via ACH deposit to her counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. This amount is intended to compensate for all damages available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The parties agreed to expedite the entry of judgment by waiving their right to seek review. Ronald Craig Homer represented the Petitioner, and Rachelle Bishop represented the Respondent. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of causation.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Jonnie Brown alleged Bell's palsy following an influenza vaccine administered on September 20, 2020. Respondent denied causation. The parties stipulated to a settlement, and Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey adopted the stipulation, awarding Petitioner $60,000.00 as compensation for all damages. The stipulation was filed on May 16, 2025. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the injury. Petitioner was represented by Ronald Craig Homer, and Respondent was represented by Rachelle Bishop.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00080-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-06-11
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 5/16/2025) regarding 81 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (aevw) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:22-vv-00080-UNJ Document 85 Filed 06/11/25 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: May 16, 2025
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
JONNIE BROWN, *
*
Petitioner, * No. 22-80V
*
v. * Special Master Dorsey
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; Influenza
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“Flu”) Vaccine; Bell’s Palsy.
*
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer., PC, Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION1
On January 27, 2022, Jonnie Brown (“Petitioner”) filed a petition in the National Vaccine
Injury Program2 alleging that she suffered Bell’s palsy as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine
she received on September 20, 2020. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1).
On May 16, 2025, the parties filed a stipulation recommending an award of compensation
to Petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 80). Respondent denies that the flu vaccine caused
Petitioner to develop Bell’s palsy, any other injury or condition, or that Petitioner’s condition is
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 and/or at
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018) (“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 1:22-vv-00080-UNJ Document 85 Filed 06/11/25 Page 2 of 7
sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. Id. at ¶ 6. 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 $60,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s
counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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 B. Dorsey
Nora B. 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

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