{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-2","petitioner_identifier":"Tiffany Cooper","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2015-11-17","condition_raw":"shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":36492,"decision_date":"2019-02-06","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:47:38.810532+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Tiffany Cooper received an influenza vaccination on November 17, 2015. She alleged a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). The case proceeded as an off-Table claim. Petitioner presented evidence, including her own affidavit, witness affidavits, and medical records, to establish causation-in-fact. The Chief Special Master found preponderant evidence that petitioner experienced immediate pain and reduced range of motion within 24 hours of vaccination, consistent with SIRVA. The medical opinion of orthopedist James Wilson, Jr., M.D., supported causation, attributing adhesive capsulitis to the vaccination. The Special Master found no evidence of an alternative cause. The ruling on entitlement found the injury was caused-in-fact by the vaccination. The parties stipulated to an award of $36,492.23, comprising $35,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,492.23 for past unreimbursable medical expenses. The decision was issued by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey on February 6, 2019, with petitioner represented by Diana Lynn Stadelnikas and respondent by Robert Paul Coleman, III.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2017-01-26","case_summary":"On January 26, 2017, Tiffany Cooper filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a left shoulder injury as a result of her November 17, 2015, influenza vaccination. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. Petitioner moved for a ruling on the written record, requesting a finding that her shoulder injury occurred immediately following the vaccination, with ongoing pain and decreased range of motion, and that these sequelae were a result of the vaccination. Respondent argued that the evidence was insufficient to support the claim that the injury occurred immediately following vaccination, noting that petitioner did not seek treatment for approximately six months and that her stated reason for delay was not credible. Respondent also argued that petitioner's physician's causation opinion should carry little weight as it was based solely on the petitioner's representation of immediate onset. The public decision does not describe the specific type of influenza vaccine administered or the exact location of the injection beyond it being in the left shoulder. Petitioner averred that she felt immediate, severe pain at the injection site and had limited range of motion within 24 hours of the vaccination. This was corroborated by witness affidavits and medical records from her first orthopedic appointment on May 23, 2016, where she reported six months of pain and stiffness since the vaccination. Her orthopedist, James Wilson, Jr., M.D., diagnosed adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and attributed it to the vaccination, noting the injection site appeared elevated and below the acromion, suggesting it may have been given into the subacromial space. An MRI on July 15, 2016, showed a partial tear of the supraspinatus insertion, a bone contusion, and a joint effusion. Petitioner continued physical therapy and returned to Dr. Wilson on February 20, 2017, reporting resolved pain but continued stiffness. Dr. Wilson maintained his assessment of vaccine-related adhesive capsulitis and recommended manipulation with arthroscopic capsular release. The Chief Special Master, Nora Beth Dorsey, found that there was preponderant evidence that petitioner experienced pain immediately following the vaccination and reduced range of motion within 24 hours. The Special Master found the injection site was in the left shoulder and that there was no evidence of an alternative cause for the shoulder pain. The ruling on entitlement, issued on August 3, 2018, found that petitioner's injury was consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) and that she was entitled to compensation, determining the injury was caused-in-fact by the vaccination. This was an off-Table claim, requiring proof of causation. On December 21, 2018, the parties filed a proffer on award of compensation. On February 6, 2019, Chief Special Master Dorsey awarded Tiffany Cooper $36,492.23, consisting of $35,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,492.23 for past unreimbursable medical expenses. Petitioner was represented by Diana Lynn Stadelnikas of Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, and respondent was represented by Robert Paul Coleman, III, of the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision was issued by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Tiffany Cooper","petitioner_attorney_name":"Diana Lynn Stadelnikas","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA","petitioner_attorney_location":"Sarasota, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:45:31","attorney_canonical_keys":"|diana-stadelnikas|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"COOPER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-0","title":"COOPER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/21/2018) regarding 47 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-02-06","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":225093,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-1","title":"COOPER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/14/2019) regarding 54 DECISION of Special Master - Fees ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-05-01","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-2","title":"COOPER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 08/03/2018) regarding 36 Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law, Ruling on Entitlement (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-05-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":199659,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00114-2"}]}