VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00450
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00450
Petitioner: Tessa Wells
Filed: 2024-03-25
Decided: 2025-09-11
Vaccine: flu and HPV
Vaccination date: 2022-11-18
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 25624

AI-assisted case summary:
Tessa Wells filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 25, 2024. She alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), or alternatively, injuries caused or significantly aggravated by the flu and HPV vaccines she received on November 18, 2022. Ms. Wells also alleged that her injuries resulted in residual effects lasting more than six months. The Respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that Ms. Wells sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the vaccines caused or significantly aggravated her alleged shoulder injury or any other condition, and denied that the vaccines caused her current condition. Despite these denials, the parties filed a joint stipulation on August 4, 2025, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. The court found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as its decision. Ms. Wells was awarded a lump sum of $25,000.00 for pain and suffering and $624.89 to reimburse a Medicaid lien for services rendered by the State of Colorado. This award represents compensation for all items of damages available under Section 15(a) of the Vaccine Act.

Theory of causation field:
unclear

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00450-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-09-11
Pages: 8
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/05/2025) regarding 28 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:24-vv-00450-UNJ Document 35 Filed 09/11/25 Page 1 of 8
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 24-0450V
TESSA WELLS, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: August 5, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Catherine Wallace Costigan, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Margaret Armstrong, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1
On March 25, 2024, Tessa Wells 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), or in the alternative that she suffered injuries caused or
significantly aggravated, as a result of both the flu and HPV vaccines she received on
November 18, 2022. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at August 4, 2025, ¶¶ 1-4. Petitioner
further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of the alleged injury for more than six
months. Petition at 6; Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a
SIRVA Table injury; denies that the flu and/or HPV vaccines caused petitioner’s alleged
shoulder injury, or any other injury; denies that the flu and/or HPV vaccines significantly
aggravated petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury, or any of petitioner’s
pre-existing conditions; and denies that the flu and/or HPV vaccines caused petitioner’s
current condition.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.
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 1:24-vv-00450-UNJ Document 35 Filed 09/11/25 Page 2 of 8
Nevertheless, on August 4, 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. A lump sum of $25,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to
Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to
Petitioner; and
B. A lump sum of $624.89, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien
for services rendered to Petitioner by the State of Colorado, in the form
of a check payable jointly to Petitioner and Optum:
Optum
Attn: Team 2
Ref: Tessa Wellsmartin, Optum Event No. 136835913
PO Box 182643
Columbus, OH 43218-2643
Petitioner agrees to endorse this check to Optum. 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

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