Crider v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-0744V

TIFFANY CRIDER, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: February 2, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren, et al., P.C., Memphis, TN, for Petitioner.

Alec Saxe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On May 13, 2024, Tiffany Crider 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 from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”) following an influenza vaccination she received on October 24, 2023. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at February 2, 2026, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she has suffered the residual effects of her vaccine-related injury for more than six months.

Petition at ¶ 12; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that Petitioner sustained a Table GBS injury; denies that any vaccine caused in fact or significantly aggravated Petitioner’s alleged injury, to include GBS and/or CIDP; and denies that Petitioner’s current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

Nevertheless, on February 2, 2026, 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 $97,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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 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

 ! #!  !! $!    &
 ,       " 

#$'  
%   

 ®48 <+l•pq . 
# !"
 ­Ik㘠ž%þ"  
 £Ÿ¤   !   " &        >&% x

!%! :V:„0 C
ą  /( M
2 í  û2ëõ
Þ èð CƖ ©) W
ÜĤ ,ÿ
 ĔīĬÆ9
9
0 OG_ åÄî   

ø üD ę"
  ğE¼†
    ¯'
½ï .¾;Š
 1 (  ć'
  ß  r + · ´ ,~ ı m-°ef gĭ›Rœƒ 5 XP¸@‹
  àD GQ7y ? 

B Ĉ ìĉ ă÷ K
 éģ 
1 ĥ   H( ĀÇñ™òäš ' 

$ ĮĊ ö—È
 # ¿
óɇˆ‰ 5ST3UN6 ĚÊ;æËs Ġ

 @4
Ò
  .Ì"
 1ĕĘ ` JÅ [ įݵ/z{6h +< ,¥ >t IJ -  \À7u Ž)  '

 
ě  3 Ĝ͌
Î  ±Ï4/Ó *“i **‘) ¬ ? »Y
 ¹L 

ċ  ġ

  LI 
 ! Č ”v ² 

 2 & Ė E ĝ$ ¦
ª
n=Á Ô FĦ  Õ ]§=!a j€

  

 č #B 
  ¶âÐ 

ù Ą
Ğħ  F   3 º Ñ
 ÂĎ
 Ûà  ¨«’!  ‚  

ô %āĨ  b0

 $ĩÖ úĪ ^Zo¡-¢³|}cw 

% #Ă áď ė &× ĐA  Ø đ
 AĒ $Ú   Ù
ê d Ýý   &çĢ ē8 5. l\•1itioncr rcrre!,Cllb thol there ha~ been no pritir a\\llr<l or c;ettkinenl of a civil action ror damage~ on petitioner·~ behalf as a re~ull of'the alleged injur).

6. Respondent denies that petitiom:r ..,w,tai ncd a Table GHS in_jur~: deniec; that an) ,nccine cauwd in !net or significant!) nggrrl\nled petitioner's alleged i11,1ury. to include GBS and1or CIDP; and Jcnics that petitioner' s current condition is a sequcl:l nl a u1ccinc-related injury.

7. Maintaining their abtl\C-~tatcJ pn<.itionc;. the parties ne,erthc k,s 11 0\\ agree that the i/.-.UC'- het\\Cl'n them shall be ~citied and that a clecbion ,lwuld be c111erl·d <1\\arding the eompensalion tlc~cribcd in paragraph 8 ofthi-. S1 ipulatio11.

R. As S<lOn as practil.:able after an enlr) of judgment retleeting a decision Clmsistenl "ilh the 1crms of this Stipulation. and after retitioncr ha, filed an election to n.:ceiH: compensation pur!>uanl lo 42 U.S.C. § .'\00an-21 (a)( 1). the Secrernry of Health and I lu111an Service!," ill issue thl.' fDIIO\\ ing , accinc compen,ation pa) ment: A lump sum of S97,000.00 to be paid through an ACH dcrosi1 111 pe1i1ioncr"!> coun.,cr 5 lOLTA accoun1 tor prompt disbursement to petitioner. This aml1t1n1 rcpresenb eompcnsa1ion for all damages that woultl be available under 42 I .S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

9. As ~0011 a~ rracticablc after the entr) of_judgme111 on entitlcm..:nt in thi s ca~c, and ancr pclitioner ha~ lilcd hoth a proper c111J 1imcl) election IO recci\.C compcn,.11ie1n pursuant 10 42 l .S.C . § J00aa-21 (a)( I). and an arplication. 1h1: parties\\ ill submit to l11rthcr proceedings before the ~pedal master to award reasonable attomeys· Ices and costs incurred in any proceeding upon th i~ petition.

I 0. Pe1i1ioncr and petitioner's attorney represent that co111pen!,at1on to be provided pur-;unrH to this Stirulmion is not for all) items or sen ice-. for which thl· Program is not primaril) liahlc under 42 l 1.S.C. § J00aa-1 S(g). Lo 1hc extent 1ha1 pa) ml·nt ha,; been made or can rcasonabl) he c,pected to be made under nn) State compensation progr:uns. in~urance policic,, 1-'1:tlcral or Stale health benefits program<; (other than Title XIX of the Sn..:iul Sccuril) Act ( ➔ 2 l .S .C. § 1396 et wq. )). orb) c111i1ic, that pro, idc health sen ices on a pr,.:-p,1i<l bac,i,.

I I. Pa) mcnt made p11r~ua111 to paragraph 8 amJ an) arnounb a,, arlh:tl pur,uant to parngraph 9 nf'this Stipulation ,,ill he made in accordance \\ith 42 U.S.( . * .100aa- I5(i). subject lo the ,l\a ilahilit) of,ulfa:ienl ,tatutor) li11Hk

I:!. I he p,1rtic~ nnd their allomC) c; further agree and ~tipulatc th:11. e,cl'pt li.)r an) a,..,ard for attorney<;· ti:es and litigation costs. the mone:, pro\'ided pursuant to tide, Stipulation" ill he u,ed .,okl) li.1r the hcnclit of pe1i1inner a-; con11:mplatcd b:, a strict con,1I uc1io11 of 42 l 1.s.C.

§ J00aa- I 5(a) and {<l). and ...u~ject to the condition~ or -t2 U.S.C. § J00a.i- I 5(g) and (h).

IJ. In retum for the pa)ments des1:ribed in paragraph~ 8 and 9. pl.'titioner, in petitioner·~ indi, idual capacity. and on behalf ofpctiti011cr'.:: heir,;. executors. admin1,tra1ors. !iUCce,..,or.., or as~ign .... lk,e, U)rcvcr irrl'vocuhl) and unconditit)nall) release, acquit and di,chargc the l nitcd State!. and the Secretar:, oft lea Ith and I luman Service~ trom an> an<l all .1cIio11s or cau~es M action (including agrc1.:mcnts. _judgments. daim~. damages. lo~s or sen iLcs. expenses and all ucmancb or" hate, er 1-.ind or nature) that litl\ c been brought. could ha, c been brought. or could be time!:, brought in the Court ~,r Federal Claim,. under the National \ ',ru:inc lnjuf) Compcnc.at ion Program, -t2 l l .S.C. § JO0aa-10 et ~eq ., on account of. or in ,my wa:, gro\\ ing c..HIt of: an) and all known or unkm)\\ n. suspected or unsuspected personal ill juries 10 or death of petitioner rc~ulting from. or alleged 10 have resulted from. lhc flu vaccin.11ion administered on October 24, 2023. as alleged by petitioner in a petition for vaccine c0111pcn,a1ion tiled on or uho111 Mn) 13. 2024. in the llnitcd States Court or Federal Claims as pct it ion No. 24-744 V.

3 14. lf·pctit ioncr !-hould die prior tn entr) nfjudgmcnl. this agrcc,m:nt ,hall be \Oidablc upon rropcr notice to the Court on hchalf ol either M bnth of the p:irties.

15. ll'the i,pccial m:i... tcr foils w i~:-.t,e a dcLi:-.illn in complete Clllll.irmit) \\ith the term:, ur th is Stipulation or if the Cnurt of rcd1:ral Claim, foi Is In enter ,iudg111c11t in con form ity \\ ith a decision that is in complete conformit) \\ ith the term~ of this Stipulation. thl.'n the parties· selllcment ond this Stipulotion ,hall be ,oidable at the sole discretion ol ,.:ithcr part) .

16. I hie; Stipulation e:-.rre!>!>C!> a full and complete ncgoti:ited ,c11lcmcnt o f liabilil) and damages cl.iimed umkr the National Childhood V.iccine Injury Act of l'>K6. ac; nmendcd. e,cept "" othern bt• noted in paragraph 9 aho, c. I here i'> absoluti.:I) 110 agreement on thi: part of the parties hereto to make any pa)mcnt or to do an) act or thing other than i, ht-rein C'.:prcssl) stated anti clear!) agreed to. l'hc rrnrties further agree and uncJer~tand that the .mard described in thb Stipulation ma) rellcct a c<11nprn111i!>c nl the partiec;· rc~rccti\C rositi01l, .,., 10 liahi li t) and or itnwunt or damages. and further, that a change in the nature of the injur~ or condition or in the item~ or compcnsat ion sought , is not grounds 10 mod ii) or revise thi, al,!rl.'cmcnl.

17. I hi~ ,tipulation !>hall not he construed as an admission h) thl.' L nited States or the Sccretar) of Health and I fum an Service~ that the llu vaccine caused pct itioncr"s alleged injuf) or an) other injur) or petitioner's current disabilities. or that petitioner !-u n;.:red an injur.> contained in the Vaccine lnju1') Table.

18. A II rights and obligations of pct it i1ml.'r hereunder shall aprl~ equal!) to petitioner· s heirs. executors. administrator!-1. sucCC!-1!-IOrs. am.I or assigns.

ENIJ OF STIPULATION Rcspcctfull:,, submitted, PE l'I l"IONl ·.R:

I IFFANY CRIDER

\ rtORNFY or RI CORD l·OR AUTHORl/l D REPRESFr--:T,\ l'IVE PLTITIONFR: OF TIIE A 1 1Ol~NEY GENl::RAI.:

~~P(~A,~ I IEATIIER I. PEARLMA1' Bl..'\('K Mc l.,\RI·:\! JO'JI ~ RYI ., ,n& C.iRll 111 Deputy Diro:ctor Oak Cour1 Dri,·c Torts Brandi. Ci, ii Dh-ision Suite 360 U.S. Department of Justice Memphis. TN 38117 P.O. Box I.th (90 I) 762-0535 Benjamin l 1anl-lin Station wcochran(~l blackmc law .com Washington. DC 20044-0146

Al l'IIORI/ED REPRl·.SENTA I IVF AT rORI\I Y 01 IHCORD FOR OF TIIE SECRETARY OF IIF.,1\1.'1 II RESPOND! '\T: Ar--:D ll lJ MAN SH{VICLS: Jeffrey S. Utp..1-. "9.--d t,, k.•lflf')' \ ••c. ► \ II } 0,., xnoo, 1)011,01 osoo Beach-5 for t. <:-{'c'--, ' :.: .,. ;:~ Ct\PT GEORGE REED GRIMES. MD. MPII ALEC SA\I : Director. Division of Injury Trial AHorney Compensation Programs Torts Brandi I lealth Systems Bureau Ci\'il Di, isi,,n Health Resources and Ser\'ice~ U.S. Department of Justice Adm inbtration P.O. Box 1-16 U.S. Department of'Health Benjam in I rank Iin Station and I lum:m Services Washington. DC 20044-0146 5600 Fishers Lane. 14W-l 8 (202) 353-7722 Roch ille. MO ~0857 alec.saxc·a u,dt~j.gov