VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00389
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00389
Petitioner: Jennifer Carlstrom
Filed: 2025-03-04
Decided: 2025-10-15
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2023-10-16
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 60558.27

AI-assisted case summary:
On March 4, 2025, Jennifer Carlstrom filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination on October 16, 2023 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report on October 7, 2025 conceding that her injury was consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and that she met the legal prerequisites for compensation. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran granted entitlement on October 8, 2025.

The public entitlement ruling and damages proffer do not provide the detailed medical story behind the claim, such as onset description, treatment, imaging, or functional limitations. They establish that the claim proceeded as a conceded Table SIRVA.

On October 15, 2025, Chief Special Master Corcoran awarded $60,558.27 as a lump sum: $60,000.00 for pain and suffering and $558.27 for past unreimbursable expenses. The award represents all damages available under Section 15(a).

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine, October 16, 2023, alleged SIRVA. COMPENSATED. Respondent conceded Table SIRVA and all legal prerequisites in an October 7, 2025 Rule 4(c) report. Entitlement October 8, 2025. Award October 15, 2025: $60,558.27 ($60,000 pain/suffering + $558.27 past unreimbursable expenses). Chief Special Master Corcoran; respondent Lynn Christina Schlie.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00389-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-11-10
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/08/2025) regarding 19 Ruling on Entitlement, ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00389-UNJ Document 25 Filed 11/10/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0389V
JENNIFER CARLSTROM, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: October 8, 2025
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On March 4, 2025, Jennifer Carlstrom filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine 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 an influenza vaccination received on October 16, 2023. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On October 7, 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. Id. at 4 (citing 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a),
(c)(10)). Respondent further agrees that Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
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-00389-UNJ Document 25 Filed 11/10/25 Page 2 of 2
compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id. (citing Section 13(a)(1)(B); Section
11(c)(1)(D)(i)).
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-00389-1
Date issued/filed: 2025-11-19
Pages: 5
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/15/2025) regarding 21 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00389-UNJ Document 26 Filed 11/19/25 Page 1 of 5
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0389V
JENNIFER CARLSTROM, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: October 15, 2025
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON DAMAGES1
On March 4, 2025, Jennifer Carlstrom filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine 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 an influenza vaccination received on October 16, 2023. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On October 8, 2025, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for a SIRVA. On October 14, 2025, Respondent filed a Proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”). Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the
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-00389-UNJ Document 26 Filed 11/19/25 Page 2 of 5
proffered award. Id. at 2. 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, Petitioner is awarded a lump
sum of $60,558.27 (representing $60,000.00 for pain and suffering, and $558.27 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).
Proffer at 2.
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-00389-UNJ Document 26 Filed 11/19/25 Page 3 of 5
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
)
JENNIFER CARLSTROM, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 25-389V
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )
SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On March 4, 2025, Jennifer Carlstrom (“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”), as amended, alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to
Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she received on
October 16, 2023. Petition at 1; ECF No. 1. On October 7, 2025, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (“respondent”) filed his Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate
for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury. ECF No. 18. On
October 8, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner
is entitled to vaccine compensation. ECF No. 19.
I. Items of Compensation1
Based upon the evidence in the 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-00389-UNJ Document 26 Filed 11/19/25 Page 4 of 5
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $60,000.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimburseable 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 $558.27. 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/Recommended Payment
The parties recommend that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made
through one 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 $60,558.27 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s
counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Jennifer Carlstrom.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
2 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 medical
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
2

Case 1:25-vv-00389-UNJ Document 26 Filed 11/19/25 Page 5 of 5
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ Lynn C. Schlie
LYNN C. SCHLIE
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) 616-3667
Email: lynn.schlie@usdoj.gov
DATED: October 14, 2025
3