Meghan Espinoza v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2017)

Meghan Espinoza filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on November 3, 2015. She alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on October 14, 2014, and experienced residual effects for more than six months.

The respondent denied that the flu immunization caused her alleged SIRVA or any other injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on January 13, 2017, agreeing that compensation should be awarded.

The Special Master found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. Meghan Espinoza was awarded a lump sum of $80,000.00, representing compensation for all items of damages available under the Vaccine Act.

The decision was finalized on January 13, 2017. Petitioner's counsel was Paul R.

Brazil of Muller Brazil, LLP, and respondent's counsel was Linda Sara Renzi of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Special Master was Nora Beth Dorsey.