VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00245
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00245
Petitioner: Meghan Thibodeau
Filed: 2025-02-11
Decided: 2025-09-30
Vaccine: Hepatitis B
Vaccination date: 2024-03-11
Condition: left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 30000

AI-assisted case summary:
On February 11, 2025, Meghan Thibodeau filed a petition seeking compensation for a left shoulder injury after a Hepatitis B vaccination on March 11, 2024. The damages proffer identifies her as a competent adult.

Respondent conceded entitlement. The Rule 4(c) report stated that her injury was consistent with the Vaccine Injury Table definition of SIRVA: she had no prior left shoulder pain, inflammation, or dysfunction; pain occurred within 48 hours; pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the vaccinated shoulder; no other condition explained the symptoms; and the residual effects lasted more than six months. The public rulings do not describe her first symptom in more detail, her treatment, imaging, therapy, or functional limits.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran granted entitlement on September 29, 2025 and awarded damages on September 30, 2025. Ms. Thibodeau received $30,000.00 for pain and suffering, paid through counsel's IOLTA account. She was represented by Wendy Cox of Siri & Glimstad, LLP.

Theory of causation field:
Hepatitis B vaccine, March 11, 2024, competent adult, alleged left SIRVA. COMPENSATED after respondent conceded Table SIRVA. Concession: no prior left shoulder pain/inflammation/dysfunction, pain within 48 hours, pain and reduced ROM limited to the vaccinated shoulder, no other condition explaining symptoms, residual effects longer than six months. Public record does not provide detailed clinical treatment or imaging. Award: $30,000 pain/suffering lump sum by ACH to counsel IOLTA. Chief Special Master Corcoran entitlement September 29, 2025 and damages September 30, 2025. Attorney Wendy Cox; respondent Sara DeStefano.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00245-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-10-30
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 09/29/2025) regarding 16 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00245-UNJ Document 25 Filed 10/30/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0245V
MEGHAN THIBODEAU, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: September 29, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Wendy Cox, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Austin, TX, for Petitioner.
Sara DeStefano, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On February 11, 2025, Meghan Thibodeau 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 Hepatitis B vaccine received on March 11, 2024.
Petition at 1-6. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United
States, her injuries have lasted more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any
other party, has ever brought an action, or received compensation in the form of an award
or settlement, for her vaccine-related injuries. Petition at ¶¶ 5, 14, 17, 18. 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-00245-UNJ Document 25 Filed 10/30/25 Page 2 of 2
On September 26, 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 4. Respondent further agrees that the records indicate that Petitioner suffered the
residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine 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-00245-1
Date issued/filed: 2025-10-30
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/30/2025) regarding 19 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00245-UNJ Document 26 Filed 10/30/25 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0245V
MEGHAN THIBODEAU, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: September 30, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Wendy Cox, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Austin, TX, for Petitioner.
Sara DeStefano, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On February 11, 2025, Meghan Thibodeau 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 Hepatitis B vaccine received on March 11, 2024.
Petition at 1-6. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.
On September 29, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner
entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On September 29, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $30,000.00.
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.
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-00245-UNJ Document 26 Filed 10/30/25 Page 2 of 5
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $30,000.00 (in pain and suffering), 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-00245-UNJ Document 26 Filed 10/30/25 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
MEGHAN THIBODEAU,
Petitioner,
No. 25-245V
v.
Chief Special Master Corcoran
ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On February 11, 2025, Meghan Thibodeau (“petitioner”) 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3, as the
result of a Hepatitis B vaccination received on March 11, 2024. Petition at 1-2, 4.
On September 26, 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 September 29, 2025, the Chief Special Master
issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 16.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $30,000.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

Case 1:25-vv-00245-UNJ Document 26 Filed 10/30/25 Page 4 of 5
This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
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 following1: a lump sum payment of $30,000.00 to be paid
through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to
petitioner, Meghan Thibodeau.
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
JULIA M. COLLISON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
1 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court
for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.
2

Case 1:25-vv-00245-UNJ Document 26 Filed 10/30/25 Page 5 of 5
/s/ Sara DeStefano
SARA DESTEFANO
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) 307-6545
E-mail: sara.destefano@usdoj.gov
DATED: September 29, 2025
3