VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00380
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00380
Petitioner: Renee Rini
Filed: 2024-01-30
Decided: 2024-04-08
Vaccine: pneumococcal
Vaccination date: 2022-03-22
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 65808

AI-assisted case summary:
Renee Rini filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) from a pneumococcal vaccine received on March 22, 2022. She claimed the injury resulted in residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that the petitioner's injury was consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. The respondent confirmed that Rini had no prior shoulder issues, experienced pain within 48 hours of vaccination, and the pain was localized to the injection site, with no other identified cause. Based on the respondent's concession and the evidence, the Chief Special Master issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Rini entitled to compensation. Subsequently, a decision awarding damages was issued. The respondent proffered an award of $65,000.00 for pain and suffering and $808.62 for past unreimbursable expenses, totaling $65,808.62. Rini agreed with this proffered award. The court awarded Rini a lump sum payment of $65,808.62.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00380-0
Date issued/filed: 2024-03-01
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 01/30/2024) regarding 20 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 24 Filed 03/01/24 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 23-380V
RENEE RINI, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: January 30, 2024
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Austin Joel Egan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On March 17, 2023, Renee Rini 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 Table injury – shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) – as the result of a pneumococcal (“Prevnar”) vaccination
received on March 22, 2022. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the
residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. See Petition at
¶¶ 10-12. 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 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 24 Filed 03/01/24 Page 2 of 2
On January 24, 2024, 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 indicates that he
has concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as
defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, [P]etitioner had no history
of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder prior to vaccination;
pain occurred within 48 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 [P]etitioner’s
shoulder pain.
Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner suffered the sequela of her injury for
more than six months and has otherwise established the legal requirements for
compensation. Id. (citations omitted).
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_23-vv-00380-1
Date issued/filed: 2024-04-08
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/04/2024) regarding 26 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 32 Filed 04/08/24 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 23-380V
RENEE RINI, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: March 4, 2024
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Austin Joel Egan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On March 17, 2023, Renee Rini 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 Table injury – shoulder injury related
to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) – as the result of a pneumococcal (“Prevnar”)
vaccination received on March 22, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On January 30, 2024, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On March 1, 2024, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00
representing pain and suffering, and past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of
$808.62. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees
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 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 32 Filed 04/08/24 Page 2 of 5
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 $65,808.62 (representing $65,000.00 for pain and suffering, and
past unreimbursable expenses of $808.62) 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 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 32 Filed 04/08/24 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
)
RENEE RINI, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 23-380V
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )
SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER OF DAMAGES
On March 17, 2023, Renee Rini (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or
“Act”), alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”)
because of a pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar”) vaccine she received in her left deltoid on
March 22, 2022. Petition at 1. On January 24, 2024, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for
compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury, and on January 30, 2024, the
Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner was entitled to
compensation. ECF Nos. 18, 20.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
1

Case 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 32 Filed 04/08/24 Page 4 of 5
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable
expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be
awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $808.62. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.
These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $65,808.62, in the form of a
check payable to petitioner.
III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment
Lump sum payable to petitioner, Renee Rini: $65,808.62
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
1 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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
2

Case 1:23-vv-00380-UNJ Document 32 Filed 04/08/24 Page 5 of 5
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ AUSTIN J. EGAN
Austin J. Egan
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 451-7479
Austin.J.Egan@usdoj.gov
Date: March 1, 2024
3