Melissa Lagdameo v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

Melissa Lagdameo filed her petition on October 4, 2024, alleging that an influenza vaccination administered in her left arm on November 21, 2022 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. She alleged that the injury met the Vaccine Injury Table framework for SIRVA, that it lasted more than six months, and that she had not previously received a civil award or settlement for the condition.

Lagdameo was represented by Maximillian J. Muller of Muller Brazil, LLP.

Respondent denied that Lagdameo sustained a SIRVA Table injury, denied that the flu vaccine caused her alleged shoulder injury or any other injury, and denied that any current condition was a sequela of a vaccine-related injury. The public compensation decision and stipulation do not describe the first shoulder symptom, exact onset interval, medical visits, physical findings, imaging, injections, therapy, work limitations, or day-to-day impact.

The victim's story in the public record is therefore limited to the claim itself: a left-arm flu shot in November 2022, a shoulder injury alleged to have persisted beyond six months, respondent's denial of causation, and a negotiated resolution. On December 29, 2025, Chief Special Master Brian H.

Corcoran found the parties' stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision awarding compensation. Lagdameo received $38,000.00 through counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement.

The amount represented all Vaccine Act damages available under Section 15(a). A later decision on March 24, 2026 addressed attorney's fees and costs, not additional injury compensation.

The Special Master awarded $18,385.09 for fees and costs, consisting of $17,406.10 in attorney's fees and $978.99 in costs, with counsel representing that Lagdameo had no personal out-of-pocket litigation expenses.