{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-1","petitioner_identifier":"Arthur French","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":80.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2019-10-26","condition_raw":"left shoulder post injection edema and rotator cuff and biceps tendinitis without tear","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2026-02-26","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal25","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 17:12:55","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":1,"theory_of_causation":"Adult petitioner, age 80; influenza vaccine October 26, 2019; left shoulder post-injection edema with rotator cuff/biceps tendinitis. ENTITLEMENT GRANTED, damages pending. Table SIRVA dismissed due to prior shoulder history; off-Table causation accepted. Petitioner expert Dr. Uma Srikumaran; respondent expert Dr. Paul Cagle. SM Corcoran credited post-injection edema/tendinitis diagnosis, 24-48 hour onset, and COVID-related treatment interruption/severity explanation. Petition filed July 15, 2020; entitlement February 26, 2026.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2020-07-15","case_summary":"On July 15, 2020, Arthur French filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered in his left arm on October 26, 2019 caused a shoulder injury. He was 80 years old at vaccination and had undergone a left rotator-cuff repair in 2009, but he maintained that he was pain-free before the flu shot.\n\nThe Table SIRVA claim had already been dismissed because of evidence of a preexisting shoulder condition. The remaining question was whether the vaccine caused-in-fact, or significantly aggravated, left shoulder post-injection edema with rotator cuff and biceps tendinitis. Mr. French reported pain about twenty-four to forty-eight hours after vaccination, including muscular pain and pain radiating down the biceps. The medical record described mild pain, reduced range of motion, and edema, and a treating physician diagnosed post-injection edema and rotator cuff/biceps tendinitis. Respondent argued that the symptoms were more likely recurrence of his prior shoulder pathology and also questioned the six-month severity requirement.\n\nPetitioner's orthopedic expert, Dr. Uma Srikumaran, attributed the condition to vaccine-triggered inflammation; respondent's expert, Dr. Paul Cagle, favored non-vaccine shoulder disease. Chief Special Master Corcoran found Dr. Srikumaran's opinion and the treating diagnosis more persuasive, credited the temporal relationship and Mr. French's explanation that COVID-19 disrupted formal therapy, and held that he continued a home exercise program. On February 26, 2026, entitlement was granted on an off-Table causation-in-fact theory, with damages left for later proceedings.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Arthur French","petitioner_attorney_name":"Michael G. McLaren","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Memphis, TN","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:43:13","attorney_canonical_keys":"|michael-mclaren|","firm_canonical_key":"black-mclaren-jones-ryland-and-griffee","package_title":"FRENCH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-0","title":"FRENCH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 09/27/2023) regarding 48 Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law, Scheduling Order. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (tlf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-10-30","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":331058,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'findings of fact'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-1","title":"FRENCH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 2/26/2026) regarding 71 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (ksb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-04-17","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":472410,"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-00862/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00862-1"}]}