In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

Filed: February 19, 2020

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

MARY TENNESEN, * UNPUBLISHED

*

Petitioner, * No. 17-1441V

*

v. * Special Master Gowen

*

SECRETARY OF HEALTH *

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Stipulation for Award; Influenza

* (“flu”); Shoulder Injury Related to 

Respondent. * Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ronald C. Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. 

Adriana R. Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent. 

DECISION ON STIPULATION1

On October 5, 2017, Mary Tennesen (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation 

under the National Vaccine Injury Program.2 Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1). Petitioner 

received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 6, 2014. Id. at ¶ 1; Stipulation at ¶ 2 (ECF No. 

60). Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the flu vaccination, she suffered a shoulder 

injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at ¶2; Stipulation at ¶ 4. 

On February 19, 2020, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be 

entered awarding compensation to petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 7. Respondent denies that 

petitioner’s alleged injury was caused by the flu vaccine. Id. at ¶ 6. Maintaining their respective 

positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and 

 

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. 
2

that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner according to the terms of 

the stipulation attached hereto as Appendix A. Id. at ¶ 7. 

The stipulation awards:

1) A lump sum of $72,500.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This 

amount represents compensation for all damages, including pain and suffering, 

lost earnings and past unreimbursable expenses 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 expediated by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 

11(a).