VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01862 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01862 Petitioner: Shelly Priebe Filed: 2020-12-15 Decided: 2022-07-15 Vaccine: Tdap Vaccination date: 2019-12-13 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 45000 AI-assisted case summary: Shelly Priebe filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving a Tdap vaccination on December 13, 2019. She stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, her symptoms had continued for more than six months, and she had not previously received compensation for her injury. The respondent conceded that Ms. Priebe was entitled to compensation, finding that her case met the criteria for SIRVA as a Table injury. Specifically, the respondent noted that she had no prior history of shoulder issues, her pain began within 48 hours of the vaccination, the pain was limited to the injection shoulder, and no other condition explained her symptoms. Following the ruling on entitlement, the parties agreed to a stipulated award. On July 15, 2022, the court awarded Ms. Priebe a lump sum of $45,000.00 as compensation for all damages related to her SIRVA. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01862-0 Date issued/filed: 2022-06-09 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 04/26/2022) regarding 23 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sw) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 26 Filed 06/09/22 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1862V UNPUBLISHED SHELLY PRIEBE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 26, 2022 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Tetanus Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Respondent. Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner. Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On December 15, 2020, Shelly Priebe filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving a Tdap vaccination on December 23, 2019. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, Petitioner’s symptoms have continued for more than six months, and that Petitioner has never received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for her vaccine-related injury. Petition at 1, 6. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 26 Filed 06/09/22 Page 2 of 2 On April 11, 2022, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Respondent found that “Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”) for SIRVA.” Id. at 4-5. Specifically, Respondent determined that “[P]etitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder that would explain her symptoms after vaccination; pain occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain was limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that the scope of damages to be awarded is limited to petitioner’s SIRVA and its related sequelae only. Id. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01862-1 Date issued/filed: 2022-07-15 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/13/2022) regarding 28 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ke) Service on parties made. Modified on 11/1/2022 (vds). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/15/22 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1862V UNPUBLISHED SHELLY PRIEBE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: June 13, 2022 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer; HUMAN SERVICES, Tetanus Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder Respondent. Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner. Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On December 15, 2020, Shelly Priebe filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving a Tdap vaccination on December 23, 2019. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered within the United States, Petitioner’s symptoms have continued for more than six months, and that Petitioner has never received compensation in the form of an award or settlement for her vaccine-related injury. Petition at 1, 6. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E- Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/15/22 Page 2 of 5 On April 26, 2022, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On June 13, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $45,000.00. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $45,000.00 in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a). The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/15/22 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS SHELLY PRIEBE, Petitioner, v. No. 20-1862V Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1 I. Procedural History On December 15, 2020, Shelly Priebe (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended. She alleges that she sustained a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table time period following administration of a Tdap vaccine she received on December 13, 2019. See Petition. On April 11, 2022, respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 22. On April 26, 2022, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 23. 1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after the Damages Decision is issued. Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/15/22 Page 4 of 5 II. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded a lump sum of $45,000.00, for all damages. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. III. Form of the Award Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following2: a lump sum payment of $45,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. IV. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Shelly Priebe: $45,000.00 Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division GABRIELLE M. FIELDING Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division 2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future pain and suffering. Case 1:20-vv-01862-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/15/22 Page 5 of 5 s/ Tyler C. King TYLER C. KING Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 305-0730 Tyler.King@usdoj.gov Dated: June 13, 2022