VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00197
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00197
Petitioner: Brenda Fernandez
Filed: 2025-02-03
Decided: 2026-01-07
Vaccine: pneumococcal conjugate
Vaccination date: 2023-02-24
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 50320.01

AI-assisted case summary:
On February 3, 2025, Brenda Fernandez filed a petition alleging that a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administered on February 24, 2023 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found entitlement on August 22, 2025. The public entitlement and damages rulings do not provide a detailed onset narrative, medical visit chronology, imaging, injections, therapy, or residual limitations.

On January 7, 2026, Chief Special Master Corcoran adopted respondent's damages proffer. Ms. Fernandez was awarded $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and $320.01 in past unreimbursed expenses, for a total lump sum of $50,320.01.

Theory of causation field:
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine February 24, 2023 causing SIRVA; adult, exact age not stated. ENTITLEMENT GRANTED; COMPENSATED. Public rulings lack detailed clinical chronology. Award $50,000 pain/suffering + $320.01 expenses = $50,320.01. Chief SM Brian H. Corcoran; petition February 3, 2025; entitlement August 22, 2025; damages January 7, 2026.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00197-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-09-23
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 08/22/2025) regarding 18 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (nh) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 21 Filed 09/23/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0197V
BRENDA FERNANDEZ, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: August 22, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Jamica Marie Littles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On February 3, 2025, Brenda Fernandez 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”) resulting from a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine received on
February 24, 2023. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges the vaccine was administered
in the United States, she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six
months, and no lawsuits have been filed or settlements or awards accepted by anyone,
including Petitioner, due to her vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 17, 18, 19. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
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 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 21 Filed 09/23/25 Page 2 of 2
On August 21, 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 agrees that Petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with
SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table in that “petitioner had no history of pain,
inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder prior to vaccination; pain occurred within
forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of
motion [were] 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
6. Respondent further agrees that the records demonstrate that Petitioner suffered the
residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and 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_25-vv-00197-1
Date issued/filed: 2026-02-09
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/07/2026 ) regarding 27 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (nh) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 31 Filed 02/09/26 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0197V
BRENDA FERNANDEZ, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: January 7, 2026
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Jamica Marie Littles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On February 3, 2025, Brenda Fernandez 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”) resulting from a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine received on
February 24, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.
On August 22, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for SIRVA. On January 7, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $50,320.01. Proffer at
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.
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 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 31 Filed 02/09/26 Page 2 of 5
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $50,320.01 (representing $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$320.01 for 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.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 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 31 Filed 02/09/26 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
BRENDA FERNANDEZ,
Petitioner,
v. No. 25-197V
Chief Special Master Corcoran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION1
On February 3, 2025, Brenda Fernandez (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to
-34, as amended (“Act”). Petitioner alleges that she sustained a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following receipt of a
pneumococcal conjugate (“Prevnar 20”) vaccine administered on February 24, 2023. See
Petition, ECF No. 1 at 1, 10. On August 21, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(“respondent”) filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that this case is appropriate for
compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury. See ECF No. 17. On
August 22, 2025, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a ruling on entitlement, finding
petitioner entitled to compensation for a SIRVA Table injury. See ECF No. 18.
I. Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
the following:
1 This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after
the Damages Decision is issued.

Case 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 31 Filed 02/09/26 Page 4 of 5
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable
expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be
awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $320.01. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.
These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled
under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through
a lump sum payment, as described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision
and the Court’s judgment award the following:2
A lump sum payment of $50,320.01 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s
counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Brenda Fernandez.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Assistant Attorney General
JONATHAN D. GUYNN
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
2 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent would oppose any award for future
medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering, and the parties reserve the
right to move the Court for appropriate relief.
2

Case 1:25-vv-00197-UNJ Document 31 Filed 02/09/26 Page 5 of 5
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/ Jamica M. Littles
JAMICA M. LITTLES
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) 305-4014
Email: jamica.m.littles@usdoj.gov
Dated: January 7, 2026
3