The opinion
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
Filed: May 16, 2025
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JONNIE BROWN, *
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Petitioner, * No. 22-80V
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v. * Special Master Dorsey
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SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Decision Based on Stipulation; Influenza
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“Flu”) Vaccine; Bell’s Palsy.
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Respondent. *
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Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer., PC, Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION BASED ON STIPULATION 1
On January 27, 2022, Jonnie Brown (“Petitioner”) filed a petition in the National Vaccine
Injury Program 2 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
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