{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435-0","petitioner_identifier":"Kathy Mergel","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2022-11-05","condition_raw":"shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":49535,"decision_date":"2025-02-05","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:57:26.628118+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Table","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2024-12-30","case_summary":"Kathy Mergel filed a petition for vaccine compensation on December 30, 2024, alleging she sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccine on November 5, 2022. The influenza vaccine is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Ms. Mergel claimed that the SIRVA was caused-in-fact by the vaccine and that she suffered residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused the alleged SIRVA or any other injury. Despite these differing positions, the parties reached a joint stipulation to settle the case. Chief Special Master Corcoran found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision awarding damages. Ms. Mergel was awarded a lump sum of $49,535.00 as compensation for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. This award represents a settlement of liability and damages, and the parties agreed to this resolution without an admission by the United States that the vaccine caused the injury.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Kathy Mergel","petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald Craig Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:43:42","attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"MERGEL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435-0","title":"MERGEL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/30/2024) regarding 26 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-02-05","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":1733643,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00435-0"}]}