VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00414
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00414
Petitioner: Katherine Norwalt
Filed: 2025-03-04
Decided: 2025-10-02
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2023-10-13
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
On March 4, 2025, Katherine Norwalt filed a petition, later amended on April 15, 2025, alleging that an influenza vaccination on October 13, 2023 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. She alleged residual effects lasting more than six months and no prior civil recovery.

Respondent conceded entitlement in a Rule 4(c) report filed on October 2, 2025. Respondent agreed that her claim was consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table: she had no prior affected-shoulder condition that explained the post-vaccination findings, pain began within 48 hours, pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the vaccinated shoulder, and no other condition explained the symptoms.

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran granted entitlement on October 2, 2025. The public ruling does not provide a detailed treatment narrative or damages evidence, and compensation remains to be determined.

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine, October 13, 2023, alleged SIRVA. ENTITLEMENT GRANTED; damages pending. Respondent conceded Table SIRVA in an October 2, 2025 Rule 4(c) report: no prior affected-shoulder condition, pain within 48 hours, pain/reduced ROM limited to injection shoulder, no other explanatory abnormality, residual effects >6 months, and statutory prerequisites met. Chief Special Master Corcoran October 2, 2025. Attorney Ronald Craig Homer; respondent Michael Bliley.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00414-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-11-05
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 10/02/2025) regarding 21 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (cr) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00414-UNJ Document 25 Filed 11/05/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0414V
KATHERINE NORWALT, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: October 2, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.
Michael Bliley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On March 4, 2025, Katherine Norwalt 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 April 15, 2025. Petitioner alleges that she suffered
a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza
vaccine received on October 13, 2023. Amended Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges
that 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.
Amended Petition at ¶¶ 21-23. 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-00414-UNJ Document 25 Filed 11/05/25 Page 2 of 2
On October 2, 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 at the time of her vaccination; pain
occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and
reduced ROM 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 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 Vaccine Act. Id. at 5-6.
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