VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00492 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00492 Petitioner: Michele Sites Filed: 2023-04-11 Decided: 2025-06-23 Vaccine: Tdap Vaccination date: 2021-05-10 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 70000 AI-assisted case summary: Michele Sites filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on April 11, 2023. She received a Tdap vaccine on May 10, 2021, which is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Ms. Sites alleged that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) within the Table's timeframe and experienced residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms. Sites sustained a SIRVA Table injury or that the vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury. Despite the denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on May 22, 2025, agreeing to an award of compensation. Chief Special Master Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision. Ms. Sites was awarded a lump sum of $70,000.00 as compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act. This award was to be paid through an ACH deposit to her counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00492-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-06-23 Pages: 7 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/23/2025) regarding 40 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:23-vv-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 1 of 7 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-0492V MICHELE SITES, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: May 23, 2025 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner. Madylan Louise Yarc, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On April 11, 2023, Michele Sites filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”). On May 10, 2021, Petitioner received a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine, which vaccine is listed in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) within the time period set forth in the Table. She further alleges that she experienced the residual effects of this condition for more than six months. 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-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 2 of 7 Respondent denies that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused Petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. Nevertheless, on May 22, 2025, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following compensation: A lump sum of $70,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. I approve the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, 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-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 3 of 7 Case 1:23-vv-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 4 of 7 Case 1:23-vv-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 5 of 7 Case 1:23-vv-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 6 of 7 Case 1:23-vv-00492-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/23/25 Page 7 of 7