VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00186
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00186
Petitioner: Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide
Filed: 2021-01-07
Decided: 2024-04-16
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2020-03-02
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 96327

AI-assisted case summary:
Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza vaccine she received on March 2, 2020. She stated that the vaccine was administered in the United States, that her injury caused sequelae for more than six months, and that she had not received any prior compensation for this injury. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Petitioner was entitled to compensation, agreeing that her condition met the criteria for SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Respondent also confirmed that Petitioner met the filing, administration, and duration requirements. Based on Respondent's concession and the evidence, entitlement to compensation was granted. Subsequently, Respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation, proposing an award of $85,000.00 for pain and suffering and $11,327.32 for past unreimbursable expenses, totaling $96,327.32. Petitioner agreed with this proposed award. The Chief Special Master issued a Decision Awarding Damages, granting Petitioner a lump sum payment of $96,327.32 for pain and suffering and past unreimbursable expenses.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00186-0
Date issued/filed: 2023-05-22
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 04/20/2023) regarding 31 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (kle) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 33 Filed 05/22/23 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 21-0186V
UNPUBLISHED
SOPHIE FRIEDFELD-GEBAIDE, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: April 20, 2023
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Respondent. Administration (SIRVA)
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Matthew Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On January 7, 2021, Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide 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 suffered a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on March
2, 2020. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the
United States, she suffered the sequela of her injury for more than six months, and neither
Petitioner nor any other party has ever received compensation in the form of an award or
settlement for her vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 3, 5; Ex. 1 at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018).

Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 33 Filed 05/22/23 Page 2 of 2
On April 18, 2023, 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.
Specifically, Respondent agrees 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 5. Respondent further agrees that the records show that Petitioner timely
filed her case, that she received the vaccine in the United States, and that she satisfies
the statutory severity requirement by suffering the residual effects or complications of her
injury for more than six months after vaccine administration. Id. at 6.
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

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00186-1
Date issued/filed: 2024-04-16
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/08/2024) regarding 45 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 49 Filed 04/16/24 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 21-186V
SOPHIE FRIEDFELD-GEBAIDE, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: March 8, 2024
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Joseph Adam Lewis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On January 7, 2021, Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide 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 suffered a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination
administered to her on March 2, 2020. Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner further alleges that the
vaccine was received in the United States, she suffered sequela of her injury for more
than six months, and neither Petitioner nor any other party has ever received
compensation in the form of an award or settlement for her vaccine-related injury. Id. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018).

Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 49 Filed 04/16/24 Page 2 of 5
On April 20, 2023, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her SIRVA. ECF No. 31. On March 7, 2024, Respondent filed a
Proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded
$85,000.00 in pain and suffering and $11,327.32 in past unreimbursable out-of-pocket
expenses. Proffer at 2, ECF No. 44. 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 $96,327.32 for pain and suffering and past unreimbursable
expenses, 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 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 49 Filed 04/16/24 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
)
SOPHIE FRIEDFELD-GEBAIDE, )
)
Petitioner, ) No. 21-186V ECF
)
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH )
AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
___________________________________)
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1
I. Procedural History
On January 7, 2021, Sophie Friedfeld-Gebaide (“petitioner”) filed a petition for
compensation (“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Petitioner alleges that she suffered
from a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a seasonal
influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on March 2, 2020. Petition at 1. On April 18, 2023,
respondent filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) Report, concluding that petitioner suffered from SIRVA
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, within the Table timeframe. ECF No. 29. On April 20,
2023, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement, finding that petitioner is
entitled to compensation for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 31.
1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to
address after the Damages Decision is issued.

Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 49 Filed 04/16/24 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 $96,327.32, consisting of $85,000.00 for past pain and suffering and $11,327.32
for unreimbursable out-of-pocket expenses. 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
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 following: A lump sum payment of $96,327.32 in
the form of a check payable to petitioner.2 Petitioner agrees.
Respectfully submitted,
BRIAN M. BOYNTON
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award
for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties
reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
2

Case 1:21-vv-00186-UNJ Document 49 Filed 04/16/24 Page 5 of 5
s/ Joseph A. Lewis
JOSEPH A. LEWIS
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146,
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
T: (202) 451-7495
E: joseph.a.lewis@usdoj.gov
DATED: March 7, 2024
3