VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00769
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00769
Petitioner: Rebecca Dobbins
Filed: 2024-05-16
Decided: 2025-07-24
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2022-09-15
Condition: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 97226

AI-assisted case summary:
Rebecca Dobbins, an adult, received an influenza vaccine on September 15, 2022. Within 48 hours, she developed shoulder pain and reduced range of motion, diagnosed as Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA). She alleged that her symptoms persisted for more than six months. The respondent conceded that her injury was consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table, noting she had no prior shoulder issues, the pain occurred within 48 hours of vaccination, was limited to the injection shoulder, and no other condition explained the symptoms. The respondent also agreed that her condition had residual effects for over six months, satisfying the legal prerequisites for compensation. The case proceeded as a Table claim. On March 10, 2025, entitlement was granted. Subsequently, on June 23, 2025, the parties stipulated to an award of $97,226.00, comprising $97,000.00 for past pain and suffering and $226.00 for past unreimbursable expenses. Ms. Dobbins passed away on January 3, 2025, from unrelated causes, and her estate's personal representative was substituted as the petitioner. The award was to be paid as a lump sum to her counsel for disbursement.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-00769-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-04-11
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 03/10/2025) regarding 20 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 24 Filed 04/11/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 24-0769V
REBECCA DOBBINS,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: March 10, 2025
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Alyssa M. Petroff, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On May 16, 2024, Rebecca Dobbins 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on September
15, 2022. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of
her injury for more than six months. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On March 10, 2025, 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 states that “petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA
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 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 24 Filed 04/11/25 Page 2 of 2
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no history of pain,
inflammation, or dysfunction of her right shoulder prior to vaccination; pain occurred within
forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of
motion was limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other
condition or abnormality has been identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at
8. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition
for more than six months, and therefore, Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the Act. Id.
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_24-vv-00769-1
Date issued/filed: 2025-07-24
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/23/2025) regarding 31 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/24/25 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 24-0769V
JAMIE MILLER, personal
representative of the ESTATE OF
REBECCA DOBBINS,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: June 23, 2025
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Alyssa M. Petroff, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On May 16, 2024, Rebecca Dobbins (“Ms. Dobbins”)2 filed a petition for
compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C.
§300aa-10, et seq.3 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a Table
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as the result of an influenza
vaccine received on September 15, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
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 On April 8, 2025, Petitioner’s counsel filed a status report reporting that Ms. Dobbins had passed away
on January 3, 2025; her death certificate confirms her death due to causes unrelated to vaccination. ECF
No. 23; ECF No. 25 (Ex. 14 (death certificate)). On May 5, 2025, Petitioner’s counsel moved to substitute
Jamie Miller, personal representative of the estate of Ms. Dobbins, as the Petitioner, which was granted
that day. ECF No. 26; ECF No. 27.
3 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-00769-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/24/25 Page 2 of 5
On March 10, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation. On June 23, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $97,226.00,
consisting of $97,000.00 in past pain and suffering and $226.00 in past unreimbursable
expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees
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 $97,226.00 (consisting of $97,000.00 in past pain and suffering and
$226.00 in past unreimbursable expenses), to be paid through an ACH deposit to
Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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.4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
4 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 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/24/25 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
JAMIE MILLER, personal representative of the
ESTATE OF REBECCA DOBBINS,
Petitioner,
No. 24-769V
Chief Special Master Corcoran
v.
ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On May 16, 2024, Rebecca Dobbins (“Ms. Dobbins”) 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 Table shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), as the result of an influenza vaccine received on September 15, 2022.
Petition at 1. On March 10, 2025, 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 the same day the Chief Special Master issued a
Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 19; ECF No. 20.
On April 8, 2025, petitioner’s counsel filed a status report reporting that Ms. Dobbins had passed
away on January 3, 2025; her death certificate confirms her death due to causes unrelated to
vaccination. ECF No. 23; ECF No. 25 (Ex. 14 (death certificate)). On May 5, 2025, petitioner’s
counsel moved to substitute Jamie Miller, personal representative of the estate of Ms. Dobbins,
as petitioner, which was granted that day. ECF No. 26; ECF No. 27.

Case 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/24/25 Page 4 of 5
I. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded the
following:
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $97,000.00 in past pain and
suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that Ms. Dobbins incurred past
unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that
petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $226.00. See 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.
The above amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Evidence of petitioner’s representative capacity is required, and no payments pursuant to
this Proffer shall be made until petitioner provides the Secretary with documentation establishing
petitioner’s appointment as legal representative of Ms. Dobbins’s estate.1
1 While petitioner appears to have been appointed personal representative of the estate of Ms.
Dobbins, the certificate of appointment indicates restrictions on the assets that may be received.
ECF No. 25 (Ex. 14). If petitioner is not authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve
as legal representative of decedent’s estate at the time a payment pursuant to this Proffer is to be
made, any such payment shall be paid to the party or parties appointed by a court of competent
jurisdiction to serve as legal representative of decedent’s estate upon submission of written
documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.
2

Case 1:24-vv-00769-UNJ Document 35 Filed 07/24/25 Page 5 of 5
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 following:
A lump sum payment of $97,226.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to
petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as
legal representative of Ms. Dobbins’s estate.
Petitioner agrees.
Respectfully submitted,
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
GABRIELLE FIELDING
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ Alyssa M. Petroff
ALYSSA M. PETROFF
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 307-3852
Fax: (202) 616-4310
Email: Alyssa.Petroff2@usdoj.gov
Date: June 23, 2025
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