Bernessia Odom v. HHS - Hepatitis B, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) (2023)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Bernessia Odom filed a petition for compensation on January 11, 2021, alleging she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) as a result of her Hepatitis B vaccination on July 11, 2019. Ms.
Odom stated the vaccine was administered in the United States and that she experienced residual effects for more than six months, with no prior award or settlement. The respondent denied that Ms.
Odom sustained a SIRVA or that the vaccine caused her injury. Despite these differing positions, the parties filed a joint stipulation on January 17, 2023, agreeing to settle the case.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation, awarding Ms.
Odom $37,500.00 in compensation for all damages. The decision was entered on February 21, 2023.
Petitioner was represented by Milton Clay Ragsdale of Ragsdale LLC, and the respondent was represented by Julia Marter Collison of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Bernessia Odom alleged a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) following a Hepatitis B vaccination on July 11, 2019. The respondent denied the alleged injury and causation. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to settle the case. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran adopted the stipulation, awarding $37,500.00. The decision was entered on February 21, 2023. The theory of causation is based on the Vaccine Injury Table, as indicated by the stipulation. No specific medical experts or detailed causation mechanism were described in the public text. Petitioner was represented by Milton Clay Ragsdale, and respondent was represented by Julia Marter Collison.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00483