Ricki Lagozzino v. HHS - Tdap, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On September 8, 2020, Ricki Lagozzino filed a petition seeking compensation under the Vaccine Act. She alleged that she suffered a Table shoulder injury related to vaccine administration after receiving influenza and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations on September 8, 2017.
She stated that the vaccinations were administered in the United States, that residual effects lasted more than six months, and that she had not received another civil award or settlement for the injury. The public stipulation gives limited clinical detail.
It does not describe the exact onset, which arm was affected, physical examination findings, imaging, injections, physical therapy, surgery, or work limitations. It does show that respondent denied that Ms.
Lagozzino sustained a Table SIRVA, denied that the flu and/or Tdap vaccines caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that her current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. The parties filed a joint stipulation on July 31, 2025.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court on August 1, 2025.
The award was a lump sum of $45,000.00, payable through petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Ms. Lagozzino, and represented all damages available under Section 15(a).
A later March 24, 2026 decision awarded attorneys' fees and costs separately, including amounts for current and former counsel, but that later fee award was not vaccine-injury compensation.
Theory of causation
Influenza and Tdap vaccines on September 8, 2017 allegedly caused shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). COMPENSATED by joint stipulation. Petition filed September 8, 2020; stipulation filed July 31, 2025; decision August 1, 2025 by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. Respondent denied Table SIRVA, causation by flu/Tdap, and vaccine-related sequelae. Public source gives limited clinical facts and no onset/treatment timeline. Award $45,000 lump sum via counsel IOLTA; March 24, 2026 fees/costs award of $56,687.39 was separate attorney compensation. Attorneys: John Robert Howie, Howie Law PC, Dallas TX; former counsel Ronald Craig Homer.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01162