Raftery v. Secretary of Health and Human Services
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
Date FiledSeptember 10, 2026
Docket21-1549V
JudgeChristian J. Moran
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
*************************
JENNIFER RAFTERY, *
* No. 21-1549V
Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran
*
v. *
* Filed: August 19, 2026
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*************************
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC,
for Petitioner;
Emilie Williams, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
UNPUBLISHED DECISION 1
On August 19, 2026 the parties filed a joint stipulation concerning the
petition for compensation filed by petitioner Jennifer Raftery on July 7, 2021.
Petitioner alleged that the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on January 9,
2020, which is contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R.
§100.3(a), caused her to suffer from chronic immune demyelinating
polyneuropathy (“CIDP”). Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award
or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her
condition.
Respondent denies that petitioner’s alleged CIDP was caused-in-fact by the
flu vaccine, and denies that the flu vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or her
current condition. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached
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), the
parties have 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would
constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Any changes will appear in the document posted on the website.
1
hereto. The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the
decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.
Damages awarded in that stipulation include:
A lump sum of $105,363.34 to be paid through an ACH deposit to
petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt distribution to
petitioner, Jennifer Raftery.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B,
the clerk is directed to enter judgment according to this decision and the attached
stipulation. 2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master
2
Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing a notice renouncing
the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.
2
I certify that the above pleading was filed upon Leah Durant on today’s date.
s/ Emilie F. Williams