{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-1","petitioner_identifier":"Sharon Stephens","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":67.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2018-08-29","condition_raw":"shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":42105,"decision_date":"2022-01-06","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T02:57:58.934726+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Sharon Stephens, age 67, received an influenza vaccine on August 29, 2018. She alleged a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent argued that the onset of shoulder pain was not within 48 hours of vaccination. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found, in a ruling on entitlement dated September 15, 2021, that the preponderance of evidence showed onset of shoulder pain within 48 hours of vaccination, satisfying the Table requirement. The decision noted that medical records did not show prior shoulder complaints in the three years before vaccination, although a history of bilateral frozen shoulder existed a decade prior. Ms. Stephens reported shoulder pain approximately three weeks post-vaccination, with medical records noting the association with the flu shot. The case proceeded to a stipulated award. On January 6, 2022, Chief Special Master Corcoran awarded Ms. Stephens $42,105.00 ($42,000.00 for pain and suffering and $105.00 for past unreimbursable expenses). Petitioner counsel was Maximillian J. Muller; respondent counsel was Sarah Christina Duncan. The public text does not detail the specific mechanism of injury or name any medical experts.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2019-10-30","case_summary":"On October 30, 2019, Sharon Stephens filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on August 29, 2018. Ms. Stephens was 67 years old at the time of vaccination. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, initially maintained that the medical records did not support an onset of shoulder pain within the 48-hour timeframe required by the Vaccine Injury Table. After review, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement on September 15, 2021, finding that the preponderance of evidence supported the conclusion that Ms. Stephens developed shoulder pain within 48 hours of vaccination and that she met all other requirements for a Table SIRVA claim. The case then proceeded to the damages phase. On December 3, 2021, the respondent filed a proffer on an award of compensation, to which Ms. Stephens agreed. In a decision dated January 6, 2022, Chief Special Master Corcoran awarded Sharon Stephens a total of $42,105.00. This award consisted of $42,000.00 for pain and suffering and $105.00 for past unreimbursable expenses. Petitioner was represented by Maximillian J. Muller of Muller Brazil, LLP, and respondent was represented by Sarah Christina Duncan of the U.S. Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset symptoms, diagnostic tests, or the mechanism of injury beyond the general classification of SIRVA. Medical records did not show prior shoulder complaints in the three years before the vaccination, though Ms. Stephens had a history of bilateral frozen shoulder a decade earlier. She reported the pain to her primary care doctor approximately three weeks after vaccination, and medical records from that visit noted the association with the flu shot. The public decision does not name any specific medical experts.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Sharon Stephens","petitioner_attorney_name":"Maximillian J. Muller","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Muller Brazil, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Dresher, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:44:48","attorney_canonical_keys":"|maximillian-muller|","firm_canonical_key":"muller-brazil","package_title":"STEPHENS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-0","title":"STEPHENS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 09/15/2021) regarding 23 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-10-15","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":274683,"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_19-vv-01685/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-1","title":"STEPHENS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/03/2021) regarding 29 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-01-06","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":317879,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-01685-2","title":"STEPHENS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/24/2022) regarding 36 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-05-03","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}