VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00412 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00412 Petitioner: Leslie Fein Filed: 2025-03-04 Decided: 2025-11-05 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2024-01-14 Condition: right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 61976.38 AI-assisted case summary: On March 4, 2025, Leslie Fein filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 14, 2024 caused a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. The public materials identify her as an adult petitioner but do not state her exact age. Respondent conceded entitlement after DICP reviewed the filed petition and medical records. The concession stated that Ms. Fein had no prior right-shoulder pain, inflammation, or dysfunction; that pain occurred within 48 hours of vaccination; that pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the vaccinated shoulder; that no other condition explained the pain; and that the residual effects lasted more than six months. Chief Special Master Corcoran found entitlement on October 29, 2025. On November 5, 2025, he awarded $61,976.38: $60,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,976.38 for past unreimbursable expenses, payable through counsel's IOLTA account. Theory of causation field: Influenza vaccine January 14, 2024 causing right Table SIRVA in adult petitioner. COMPENSATED. Respondent conceded no prior right shoulder symptoms, pain within 48 hours, pain/reduced ROM limited to vaccinated shoulder, no alternative cause, and severity beyond six months. Entitlement October 29, 2025; damages November 5, 2025. Award $61,976.38 ($60,000 pain/suffering + $1,976.38 expenses). Petition filed March 4, 2025. Attorney Laura Levenberg. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00412-0 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-03 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/29/2025) regarding 25 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:25-vv-00412-UNJ Document 33 Filed 12/03/25 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0412V LESLIE FEIN, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: October 29, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Laura Levenberg, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner. Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On March 4, 2025, Leslie Fein 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”) following an influenza vaccination she received on January 14, 2024. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that her “SIRVA symptoms have persisted for more than six months.” Petition at ¶ 8. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 22, 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. Respondent states that “Petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined 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-00412-UNJ Document 33 Filed 12/03/25 Page 2 of 2 by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, Petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her right shoulder prior to vaccination; pain occurred within 48 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 5. Respondent further agrees that , “based on the record as it now stands, Petitioner 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 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00412-1 Date issued/filed: 2025-12-08 Pages: 5 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/05/2025) regarding 29 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:25-vv-00412-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/08/25 Page 1 of 5 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0412V LESLIE FEIN, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: November 5, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Laura Levenberg, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner. Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On March 4, 2025, Leslie Fein 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”) following an influenza vaccination she received on January 14, 2024. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On October 29, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On November 4, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $61,976.38, comprised of $60,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,976.38 for past unreimbursable expenses. 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-00412-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/08/25 Page 2 of 5 Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $61,976.38, comprised of $60,000.00 for pain and suffering and $1,976.38 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-00412-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/08/25 Page 3 of 5 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS LESLIE FEIN, Petitioner, No. 25-412V (ECF) Chief Special Master Corcoran v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On March 4, 2025, Leslie Fein (“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 right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), “resulting from the influenza [‘flu’] vaccination [she] received on January 14, 2024.”1 Petition at 1-3. On October 22, 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. ECF No. 23. On October 29, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 25. 1 According to her vaccination records, petitioner received her vaccine on January 15, 2024—not January 14, 2024. Case 1:25-vv-00412-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/08/25 Page 4 of 5 I. Items of Compensation A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $60,000.00 in pain and suffering damages. 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 $1,976.38. 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 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 following:2 a lump sum payment of $61,976.38, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner. 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering. 2 Case 1:25-vv-00412-UNJ Document 34 Filed 12/08/25 Page 5 of 5 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 COLLEEN C. HARTLEY Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division s/Sarah B. Rifkin SARAH B. RIFKIN 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) 305-5997 Sarah.Rifkin@usdoj.gov DATED: November 4, 2025 3