Richard Dean Haugan v. HHS - Influenza, significant aggravation of preexisting right shoulder condition (2025)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On November 1, 2021, Richard Dean Haugan filed a petition alleging that a high-dose influenza vaccine administered at a Walgreens on Bainbridge Island on October 31, 2018, caused serum sickness and worsened his right shoulder condition. He was 74 years old at vaccination.
Mr. Haugan had a long pre-vaccination history that included adhesive capsulitis or shoulder problems dating back to 2006, a motor vehicle accident, gout, and migratory joint pain.
After vaccination, he and his wife described a chest rash and itching that lasted several days. During a December 2018 trip to Hawaii, he had trouble lifting luggage with his right shoulder.
In early 2019 he developed additional complaints involving his finger, ankle, wrist, and shoulder, and he asked treating doctors whether the flu shot could have triggered a broader inflammatory reaction. A May 2019 MRI showed rotator-cuff tendinosis, a partial bursal-surface tear, AC and glenohumeral degeneration, and labral tearing.
Mr. Haugan relied on treating physicians, including allergist Dr.
Robinson, orthopedic physician Dr. Belfie, and primary-care physician Dr.
Mostov, to support a vaccine-triggered aggravation theory. Respondent relied on allergy/immunology expert Dr.
MacGinnitie and orthopedic expert Dr. Feeley.
Special Master Thomas L. Moran rejected the serum-sickness theory because the record did not show serum-sickness symptoms lasting more than six months.
But he found that Mr. Haugan proved a compensable off-Table significant aggravation of a preexisting right shoulder condition.
The ruling credited the right-sided clinical history despite an unclear vaccination record and found the treating opinions and medical literature sufficient to satisfy the Loving and Althen requirements. On September 18, 2025, Mr.
Haugan was found entitled to compensation for the right shoulder significant-aggravation claim. Damages remained pending.
Mr. Haugan represented himself.
Theory of causation
High-dose influenza vaccine, October 31, 2018, age 74, alleged serum-sickness-type reaction and significant aggravation of preexisting right shoulder disease. Serum sickness theory DENIED for failure to prove six-month severity; right shoulder significant-aggravation claim GRANTED, damages pending. Key evidence: right-sided shoulder complaints beginning after vaccination despite a blurry vaccine record, prior rotator-cuff/adhesive-capsulitis history, MRI showing tendon/labral/degenerative findings, treating physicians Dr. Robinson, Dr. Belfie, and Dr. Mostov supporting vaccine-triggered exacerbation, and respondent experts Dr. MacGinnitie and Dr. Feeley disputing causation. Special Master Moran found the Loving/Althen requirements met for right shoulder aggravation. Petitioner pro se.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02095