In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 12-635V 

Filed: March 21, 2016 

Not for Publication 

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

LAURA M. STOLOWSKI, * 

* 

 Petitioner, * 

 * 

v. * 

 * 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH * 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

 * 

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

Ramon Rodriguez, III, Richmond, VA, for petitioner. 

Justine E. Walters, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

MILLMAN, Special Master

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On March 18, 2016, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to settle 

this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that she suffered rheumatologic 

disorder, immunologic disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, and other rheumatologic defects that were 

caused or significantly aggravated by her October 7, 2009 receipt of influenza (“flu”) vaccine. 

Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of this injury for more than six 

months. Respondent denies that petitioner’s alleged rheumatologic disorder, immunologic 

disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, other rheumatologic defects, or any other injury, were caused by flu

vaccine. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this matter informally.

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this 

case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal 

Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal 

Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all 

decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets or 

commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar information 

whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a decision is 

filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the document=s 

disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within the banned 

categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.

Damages decision based on 

stipulation; rheumatologic disorder; 

immunologic disorder; rheumatoid 

arthritis; other rheumatologic 

defects; influenza (“flu”) vaccine
2 

The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby 

adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and 

on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards: 

a. a lump sum of $130,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner; and 

b. a lump sum of $27,558.01, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien. The award shall 

be in the form of a check for $27,558.01, made payable jointly to petitioner and 

Treasurer, State of New Jersey

Health Management Systems, Inc.

P.O. Box 416522 

Boston, MA 02241-6522 

Medicaid ID: 132082129001 

Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey. The 

awards represent compensation in satisfaction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the 

court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 21, 2016 s/ Laura D. Millman

 Laura D. Millman

 Special Master

 

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or 

jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.