{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-1","petitioner_identifier":"Latisha Fontana","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2018-10-02","condition_raw":"shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":67000,"decision_date":"2022-04-08","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:13:08.135625+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Latisha Fontana alleged a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza vaccine on October 2, 2018. The respondent conceded entitlement to compensation, noting no prior shoulder history, symptom onset within 48 hours of vaccination, symptoms confined to the vaccinated shoulder, and no other identified condition explaining the symptoms. The case proceeded as a Table injury claim. The respondent's Rule 4(c) Report and the Ruling on Entitlement were issued by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. A Decision Awarding Damages was issued by Chief Special Master Corcoran on April 8, 2022, based on a proffer from the respondent and agreement from the petitioner. The award stipulated was $67,000.00 for pain and suffering, paid as a lump sum to the petitioner. Petitioner was represented by Benjamin Paul Kates, and respondent was represented by Ida Nassar and Martin Conway Galvin. 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":"2021-11-01","case_summary":"Latisha Fontana filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 9, 2020, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on October 2, 2018. She claimed this injury caused significant pain and suffering for over a year. The respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report on October 28, 2021, conceding that Ms. Fontana was entitled to compensation. The respondent noted that Ms. Fontana had no prior history of shoulder issues, her pain and reduced range of motion occurred within 48 hours of the vaccination, her symptoms were confined to the vaccinated shoulder, and no other condition explained her symptoms. The respondent further agreed that the scope of damages was limited to Petitioner’s left-sided SIRVA and its related sequelae. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement on November 1, 2021, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on March 7, 2022, the respondent filed a proffer on the award of compensation, indicating that Petitioner should be awarded $67,000.00 for pain and suffering, and that Petitioner agreed with this proffered award. Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Decision Awarding Damages on April 8, 2022, awarding Petitioner a lump sum payment of $67,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Ms. Fontana. This amount represented compensation for all damages available under Section 15(a). Petitioner was represented by Benjamin Paul Kates of Pleban & Petruska Law, and the respondent was represented by Ida Nassar and later Martin Conway Galvin of the U.S. Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, clinical details beyond the shoulder injury, diagnostic tests, or treatments. The specific mechanism of injury is not detailed in the public decision, but the case proceeded as a Table injury claim.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Latisha Fontana","petitioner_attorney_name":"Benjamin Paul Kates","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Pleban & Petruska Law","petitioner_attorney_location":null,"adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:44:42","attorney_canonical_keys":"|benjamin-kates|","firm_canonical_key":"pleban-and-petruska-law","package_title":"FONTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-0","title":"FONTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 11/01/2021) regarding 38 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-12-03","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":246731,"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_20-vv-00265/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-1","title":"FONTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/07/2022) regarding 47 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-04-08","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":359641,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00265-2","title":"FONTANA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/07/2023) regarding 62 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (nh) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-03-13","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}