VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00354
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00354
Petitioner: Heidi Brown
Filed: 2025-02-28
Decided: 2026-06-29
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2023-08-09
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
Heidi Brown filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) resulting from a tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine received on August 9, 2023. She stated the vaccine was administered in the United States, she suffered residual effects for more than six months, and no prior action or compensation had been sought for this injury. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding that Petitioner is entitled to compensation for a Table SIRVA. Respondent noted that Petitioner had no prior shoulder issues, the pain occurred within 48 hours after vaccination, and the pain was limited to the side of administration, with no other condition explaining the symptoms. Respondent also agreed that Petitioner suffered residual effects for more than six months and met all Vaccine Act requirements. Based on Respondent's concession and the record, Chief Special Master Corcoran found Petitioner entitled to compensation.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00354-0
Date issued/filed: 2026-07-30
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 06/29/2026) regarding 29 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (cr) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00354-UNJ Document 31 Filed 07/30/26 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0354V
HEIDI BROWN,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: June 29, 2026
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Jonathan Joseph Svitak, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Woodridge, IL, for Petitioner.
Meghan Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On February 28, 2025, Heidi Brown filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”), which she amended on December 15, 2025. Petitioner alleges that she
suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from a
tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine received on August 9, 2023.
Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges the vaccine was administered in the United States,
she suffered residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and neither
Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever filed any action, or received compensation in the
form of an award or settlement, for her vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 19, 23, 24.
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-00354-UNJ Document 31 Filed 07/30/26 Page 2 of 2
On June 26, 2026, 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 1-2.
Specifically, Respondent recommends that Petitioner be found entitled to compensation
for a Table SIRVA because “Petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction
of her right shoulder prior to vaccination that would explain petitioner’s post-vaccination
symptoms; shoulder pain occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an
intramuscular Tdap vaccination; shoulder pain and reduced ROM were limited to the side
in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been
identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that
Petitioner suffered residual effects of her condition for more than six months, and has
satisfied all requirements 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