VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00416
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00416
Petitioner: Mary Flatt
Filed: 2022-04-11
Decided: 2025-11-06
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 
Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 95000

AI-assisted case summary:
On April 11, 2022, Mary Flatt filed a Vaccine Program claim alleging that an influenza vaccination caused Guillain-Barre syndrome. The public stipulation identifies her as an adult but does not state her exact age or the date of vaccination.

Respondent denied that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Flatt's GBS, any other injury, or her current condition. The public decision does not describe onset, hospital course, diagnostic testing, treatment, expert opinions, or the biological mechanism alleged. On November 6, 2025, Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the parties' stipulation and awarded $95,000.00 as a lump sum through counsel for all damages available under the Vaccine Act.

Theory of causation field:
Adult petitioner; influenza vaccine alleged, vaccination date not stated in public stipulation; alleged GBS. COMPENSATED by stipulation. Respondent denied causation; public text lacks onset, diagnostics, treatment, mechanism, and experts. SM Gowen November 6, 2025. Award $95,000.00 lump sum. Petition filed April 11, 2022.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00416-0
Date issued/filed: 2026-01-08
Pages: 7
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/6/2025) regarding 53 DECISION on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:22-vv-00416-UNJ Document 57 Filed 01/08/26 Page 1 of 7
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: November 6, 2025
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
MARY FLATT, *
*
Petitioner, * No. 22-416V
*
v. * Special Master Gowen
*
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Leah V. Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, D.C., for petitioner.
James V. Lopez, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.
DECISION ON STIPULATION1
On April 11, 2022, Mary Flatt (“petitioner”) filed her claim in the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program (“VICP”).2 Petition, pmbl., ECF No. 1. Petitioner alleges that the
influenza (“flu”) vaccine caused her to suffer injuries including Guillain-Barré syndrome
(“GBS”). Id.
On November 4, 2025, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be
entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation, ECF No. 52. Respondent denies that
the flu vaccine petitioner received caused her to suffer GBS, or any other injury, or her current
condition. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties now agree
that the issues between them settled and that a decision should be entered awarding petitioner
compensation in accordance with the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7.
1 Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it to a publicly available website. This decision
will appear at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc or on the Court of Federal Claims
website. This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision 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 decision
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 et seq. (2023)
(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 1:22-vv-00416-UNJ Document 57 Filed 01/08/26 Page 2 of 7
The stipulation provides:
1) A lump sum payment of $95,000.00 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).
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

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