In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 14-70V 

(Not to be published) 

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

* 

DAWN NELSON, * 

* 

Petitioner, * Filed: June 19, 2015

* 

v. * Decision by Stipulation; Damages; 

* Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;

* Pemphigus Vulgaris (“PV”)

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * 

HUMAN SERVICES, * 

* 

Respondent. * 

* 

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

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On January 27, 2014, Petitioner Dawn Nelson filed a petition seeking compensation under 

the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleges 

that she suffered Pemphigus Vulgaris (“PV”) and related complications as a result of receiving an 

influenza (“flu”) vaccine. 

Respondent denies that Petitioner’s PV and any related medical problems were caused by 

the receipt of the flu vaccine. Nonetheless both parties, while maintaining their above-stated 

1

 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, I will post this decision on the 

United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-

347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the posted decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential 

information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request 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). Otherwise, the whole decision will be available to the public. 

(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.A. ' 300aa-10-' 300aa-34 (West 

1991 & Supp. 2002). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. ' 300aa. 
2

positions, agreed in a stipulation filed June 18, 2015, that the issues before them can be settled and 

that a decision should be entered awarding Petitioner compensation. 

I have reviewed the file, and based upon that review, I conclude that the parties’ stipulation 

is reasonable. I therefore adopt it as my decision in awarding damages on the terms set forth 

therein. 

The stipulation awards: 

A lump sum of $45,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. This amount 

represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa-15(a). 

Stipulation ¶ 8. 

I approve a Vaccine Program award in the requested amount set forth above to be made to 

Petitioner. 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.3

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

 /s/ Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran 

Special Master 

3

 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment by jointly filing notice renouncing their 

right to seek review.