Caitlin O’Donoghue v. HHS - Meningococcal, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2022)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Caitlin O’Donoghue filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 6, 2020, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving two meningococcal vaccines in her right deltoid on July 24, 2018. She also received a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in her left deltoid on the same date.
The respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report on May 9, 2022, conceding that Ms. O’Donoghue met the criteria for SIRVA as a Table injury and was entitled to compensation.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement on May 9, 2022, finding her entitled to compensation.
Subsequently, on August 17, 2022, the respondent filed a proffer recommending an award of $47,500.00 for pain and suffering and $112.46 for unreimbursed expenses, totaling $47,612.46. The petitioner agreed with this proffered award.
Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a decision on August 17, 2022, awarding Ms. O’Donoghue a lump sum payment of $47,612.46, consisting of $47,500.00 for pain and suffering and $112.46 for unreimbursed expenses.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or the mechanism of injury beyond it being a Table injury. Petitioner counsel was Jonathan Joseph Svitak of Shannon Law Group, and respondent counsel was Andrew Henning of the U.S.
Department of Justice. Ms.
O’Donoghue is a competent adult.