United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Louala v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided July 16, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-1562V

FADIA LOUALA, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: June 5, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Alison Haskins, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Aventura, FL, for Petitioner.

James Vincent Lopez, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 On September 12, 2023, Fadia Louala 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 she suffered a Table injury – shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her October 17, 2022 tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed June 4, 2025, ¶¶ 1-2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she received her vaccination in the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5; see Petition at ¶¶ 2, 17-18. “Respondent denies that [P]etitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that a vaccine caused [P]etitioner's alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted 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, 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 (2018).

Nevertheless, on June 4, 2025, 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. A lump sum of $75,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner; and b. A lump sum of $6,423.53, which amount represents reimbursement of a Medicaid lien for services rendered on behalf of Petitioner by the State of Arizona, in the form of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Optum PO Box, 182643 Columbus. OH 43218 Tax ID: XX-XXXXXXX Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Optum.

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 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.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.