Maddison Rowlett v. HHS - Hepatitis B, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2020)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On September 20, 2018, Maddison Rowlett filed a petition for vaccine injury compensation alleging she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) as a result of her Hepatitis B vaccination on August 18, 2017. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report on December 27, 2019, conceding entitlement to compensation.
The respondent's medical personnel concluded that the petitioner suffered a SIRVA of the left shoulder, which is a "Table injury" as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent noted that the petitioner had no recent history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder, that the onset of pain occurred within 48 hours after the vaccination, that the pain was limited to the shoulder where the vaccine was administered, and that no other condition or abnormality could explain the symptoms.
The respondent also agreed that the petitioner suffered residual effects of the condition for more than six months. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence of record, Chief Special Master Brian H.
Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement on December 27, 2019, finding Maddison Rowlett entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on January 10, 2020, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $60,000.00 for past and future pain and suffering.
The petitioner agreed to this proffered award. On January 14, 2020, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a decision awarding Maddison Rowlett a lump sum payment of $60,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, as compensation for all damages available under § 15(a).
The public decision does not describe the specific onset symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses involved in this case. Petitioner was represented by Michael G.
McLaren of Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., and respondent was represented by Lisa Ann Watts of the U.S. Department of Justice.