In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 19-732V 

UNPUBLISHED 

CHRISTOPHER CROWLEY, 

 Petitioner, 

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent. 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: October 27, 2021 

 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); Joint 

Stipulation on Damages; Influenza 

(Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury 

Related to Vaccine Administration 

(SIRVA) 

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner. 

Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. 

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

 On May 17, 2019, Christopher Crowley filed a petition for compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the 

“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (SIRVA) resulting from the administration of an influenza (flu) vaccination 

received on October 3, 2017. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at October 26, 2021, ¶¶ 1-3. 

Petitioner further alleges that the vaccination was administered with the United States, 

that he suffered the residual effects of his injury for more than six months after 

administration of his flu vaccine, and that no lawsuits have been filed or settlements or 

awards accepted by anyone, including Petitioner, due to his vaccine-related injury.. 

Petition at 1, 11; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner sustained a 

SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused [P]etitioner’s alleged shoulder 

injuries, or any other injury; and denies that his current condition is a sequelae of a 

vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6. 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 

required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the EGovernment Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from 

public access. 

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease 

of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012). 
2

Nevertheless, on October 26, 2021, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, 

stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation 

reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. 

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following 

compensation: 

A lump sum of $40,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. 

Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages 

that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. 

I approve the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of 

a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed 

to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 

 s/Brian H. Corcoran 

 Brian H. Corcoran 

 Chief Special Master 

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice 

renouncing the right to seek review. 
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

CHRISTOPHER CROWLEY, 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent. 

STIPULATION 

The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 

No. 19-732V 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

(ECF) 

1. Christopher Crowley, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (the ''Vaccine 

Program"). The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt 

of the influenza ("flu") vaccine, which vaccine is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the 

"Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a). 

2. Petitioner received the flu vaccine on or about October 3, 2017. 

3. The vaccination was administered within the United States. 

4. Petitioner alleges that he sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration ("SIRVA") following his flu vaccine, within the time period set forth in the 

Table, or in the alternative, that his alleged shoulder injuries were caused by the vaccine. He 

further alleges that he experienced the residual effects of his alleged injuries for more than six 

months after vaccine administration. 
5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action 

for damages on his behalf as a result of his condition. 

6. Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the 

vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder injuries, or any other injury; and denies that his 

current condition is a sequelae of a vaccine-related injury. 

7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the 

issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the 

compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation. 

8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with 

the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue 

the folbwing vaccine compensation payment: 

A lump sum of $40,000.00 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). 

9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and 

after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(l), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings 

before the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in proceeding 

,upon this petition. 

10. Petitioner and his attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to 

this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable 

under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g), to the extent that payment has been made or can reasonably be 

expected to be made under any State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or 

2 
State health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 

1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis. 

11. Payments made pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Stipulation will be made in 

accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(Q, subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds. 

12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award 

for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursable expenses, the money provided 

pursuant to this Stipulation will be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a 

.strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. 

§ 300aa-15(g) and (h). 

13. In return for the payment described in paragraph 8 and any amount awarded pursuant 

to paragraph 9, petitioner, in his individua 1 capacity and on behalf of his heirs, executors, 

administrators, successors or assigns, does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, 

acquit and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any 

and all actions or causes of action (including agreements,judgments, claims, damages, loss of 

services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could 

have been brought, or could be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the National 

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any 

way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries 

to or death of petitioner resulting from, or alleged to have resulted from, the flu vaccination 

administered on October 3, 2017, as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation 

filed on or about May 17, 2019, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. l 9-

732V. 

3 
14. If petitioner should die prior to entry of judgment, this agreement shall be voidable 

upon proper notice to the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties. 

15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms 

of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a 

decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties' 

settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party. 

16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and 

damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except 

as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the 

parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated 

and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this 

Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties• respective positions as to liability and/or 

amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the 

items of compensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement. 

17. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services that flu vaccine caused petitioner's alleged shoulder 

injury, any other injury, or his current disabilities. 

18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's 

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns. 

I 

I 

I 

END OF STIPULATION 

4 
J 

A THO~ZED REPRESENTATIVE 

0 THE ~ECRETARY OF HEAL TH 

D HUMAN SERVICES: 

I 

: 

P. ~I Z:,~e,.I A/JM, tY4; 

MARA OVERBY 

A ting D~ector, Division of Injury 

ompens~tion Programs 

H ahh Systems Bureau 

H alth Re~ources and Services 

dminis~ation 

U S. Department of Health 

d Human Services • I 5 0 FJShers Lane, 08Nl46B 

R ckville, jMD 20857 

L~{uhoz., I 

5 

AU ORIZEDREPRESENTATIVE 

OFT EA TTORNEY GENERAL: 

HEA 

Dep 

Torts 

Civil 

U.S. epartment of Justice 

P.O. ~ox 146 

Benjatnin Franklin Station I 

Was · on, DC 20044-0146 

ATT RNEYOFRECORDFOR 

RES ONDENT: 

Senio Trial Attorney 

Torts ranch, Civil Division 

U.S. epartment of Justice 

P.O. , ox 146 

Benja · Franklin Station 

Was gton, D.C. 20044-0146 

Tel: 202) 919-6599 

Ema· claudia.gangj@usdoj.gov 

'"''