Petruzzi v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: January 30, 2026 * * * * * * * * * * ** * DOROTHY PETRUZZI, * As administratrix of the Estate of * JOSEPH PETRUZZI, decreased * * Petitioner, * No. 20-250V * v. * Special Master Gowen * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lawrence R. Cohan, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, Philadelphia, PA, for petitioner.

Catherine E. Stolar, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

DECISION ON STIPULATION1 On March 5, 2020, Dorothy Petruzzi, as administrator of the Estate of Joseph Petruzzi (“petitioner”), filed a claim in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1).3 Petitioner alleged that as a result of receiving the influenza4 vaccine on January 5, 2018, he developed a Table Guillain-Barré Syndrome (“GBS”). Id.

Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it to a publicly available website. This decision will appear at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc or on the Court of Federal Claims website. This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision 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 decision will be posted on the court’s website without any changes. Id. 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.

Mr. Petruzzi died on December 20, 2024, and Ms. Dorothy Petruzzi, as the legal representative of the estate of Mr. Petruzzi, was substituted as the petitioner in this matter on September 2, 2025. Order to Amend Case Caption (ECF No. 61).

On January 30, 2026, respondent filed a stipulation providing that a decision should be entered awards compensation to Petitioner. Stipulation (ECF No. 67). Respondent denies that petitioner sustained GBS, or that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Petruzzi’s alleged injury, and denies that the flu vaccine caused Mr. Petruzzi’s death. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, maintaining their respective positions, the parties now agree that issues between them settled and that a decision should be entered awarding compensation to petitioner described in the stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A.

The stipulation provides: 1) A lump sum payment of $15,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as legal representative of the Estate of Joseph Petruzzi.

This amount represents payment for all damages 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.5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master

Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule 11(a).