Carnes v. Secretary of Health and Human Services
22-1213V
Fed. Cl.
Jan 9, 2026
Check Treatment
Docket
  In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 22-1213V



 PAMELA CARNES,                                              Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                         Filed: December 9, 2025
 v.

 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
 HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.


John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.

Irene Angelica Firippis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                               DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

        On September 2, 2022, Pamela Carnes filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”), which she amended on April 11, 2025 and May 19, 2025. Petitioner
alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”)
resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October 17, 2019. Second
Amended Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed December 8, 2025, at ¶¶ 2-4. Petitioner further
alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United States, she experienced the
residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her condition.
Second Amended Petition at ¶¶ 1, 20, 21; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that
petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner’s
alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that petitioner’s 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 December 8, 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 lump sum of $60,500.00, 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




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.

                                                    2