VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00429
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00429
Petitioner: Leanne Knapp
Filed: 2017-03-27
Decided: 2018-03-01
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2016-05-09
Condition: left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 120000

AI-assisted case summary:
Leanne Knapp filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of receiving a Tdap vaccine on May 9, 2016. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that petitioner's alleged injury was consistent with SIRVA and was caused-in-fact by the Tdap vaccine. The respondent also agreed that no other causes for the injury were identified and that petitioner met the statutory requirements for entitlement. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence of record, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Leanne Knapp entitled to compensation. Subsequently, the parties filed a proffer on award of compensation, agreeing to a lump sum payment of $120,000.00. The court issued a decision awarding this amount, representing compensation for all damages available under the Vaccine Act.

Theory of causation field:
Off-Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00429-0
Date issued/filed: 2018-02-07
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 9/18/2017) regarding 14 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (rp) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 26 Filed 02/07/18 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-0429V
Filed: September 18, 2017
UNPUBLISHED
LEANNE KNAPP,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
v. Causation-In-Fact; Tetanus
Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
HUMAN SERVICES, Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On March 27, 2017, Leanne Knapp (“petitioner”) 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 as a result of receiving the tetanus-
diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on May 9, 2016, she suffered a left
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-2. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On September 18, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he
concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule
1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 26 Filed 02/07/18 Page 2 of 2
4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent states that “petitioner’s alleged injury is
consistent with SIRVA, and that it was caused-in-fact by the Tdap vaccine that she
received on May 9, 2016.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that no other causes for
petitioner’s SIRVA were identified and that petitioner has met the statutory requirements
for entitlement to compensation. Id.
In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00429-1
Date issued/filed: 2018-03-01
Pages: 4
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/30/2017) regarding 22 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (rp) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 27 Filed 03/01/18 Page 1 of 4
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-0429V
Filed: November 30, 2017
UNPUBLISHED
LEANNE KNAPP,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
Petitioner,
Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
v.
Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
Administration (SIRVA)
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Leah V. Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On March 27, 2017, Leanne Knapp (“petitioner”) 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 that as a result of receiving the
tetanus diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on May 9, 2016, she suffered a
left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-2. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On September 18, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On November 30, 2017, respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$120,000.00. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).

Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 27 Filed 03/01/18 Page 2 of 4
with the proffered award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that
petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards
petitioner a lump sum payment of $120,000.00, in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, Leanne Knapp. This amount represents compensation for all damages that
would be available under § 300aa-15(a).
The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this
decision.3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
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

Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 27 Filed 03/01/18 Page 3 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
)
LEANNE KNAPP, )
)
Petitioner, ) No. 17-429V ECF
)
v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey
)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH )
AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
___________________________________ )
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1
I. Procedural History
On March 27, 2017, Leanne Knapp (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -
34, as amended. She alleges that, as a result of receiving the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on May 9, 2016, she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1-2.
On September 18 2017, respondent filed her Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, conceding
causation-in-fact for a SIRVA to petitioner’s left arm. On September 18, 2017, the Chief Special
Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a
SIRVA to petitioner’s left arm.
II. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.

Case 1:17-vv-00429-UNJ Document 27 Filed 03/01/18 Page 4 of 4
$120,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
III. Form of the Award
Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through a lump sum payment of $120,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.2
Petitioner agrees.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAD A. READLER
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
CATHARINE E. REEVES
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/Darryl R. Wishard
DARRYL R. WISHARD
Senior Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U. S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box l46, Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Direct dial: (202) 616-4357
Dated: November 30, 2017 Fax: (202) 616-4310
2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
2