Julie McLaughlin v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2024)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Julie McLaughlin filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on December 5, 2022. She alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccine received on October 21, 2021, and that she experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six months.
The respondent denied that Ms. McLaughlin sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the flu vaccine caused her condition.
The parties, represented by Leah VaSahnja Durant for the petitioner and Michael Joseph Lang for the respondent, filed a joint stipulation on April 9, 2024, agreeing to settle the case. Chief Special Master Brian H.
Corcoran adopted the stipulation, awarding Ms. McLaughlin a lump sum of $15,000.00.
This amount is compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act. The case proceeded as a Table claim, and the parties stipulated to the award amount, which covers all damages.
The decision was issued on May 10, 2024.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Julie McLaughlin alleged a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccine on October 21, 2021, with residual effects lasting more than six months. This was alleged as a Table injury. Respondent denied a SIRVA Table injury and that the flu vaccine caused the alleged injury or any other condition. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle the case. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation, awarding a lump sum of $15,000.00 for all damages under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). The stipulation, dated April 9, 2024, and the decision, dated May 10, 2024, do not detail specific medical experts, clinical findings, onset, symptoms, treatments, or the precise mechanism of injury. Petitioner was represented by Leah VaSahnja Durant, and Respondent was represented by Michael Joseph Lang.