VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00645
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00645
Petitioner: Joan Hoverman
Filed: 2025-04-15
Decided: 2025-09-10
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2022-09-22
Condition: right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: entitlement granted
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
On April 15, 2025, Joan Hoverman filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on September 22, 2022, caused a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration.

Respondent conceded entitlement. The concession stated that Ms. Hoverman had no prior history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in the right shoulder; that her right shoulder pain began within 48 hours of vaccination; that her symptoms were limited to the vaccinated shoulder; that no other condition more likely explained the injury; and that the residual effects lasted more than six months. The public entitlement decision does not describe the medical treatment, imaging, injections, or therapy in detail.

On September 10, 2025, Chief Special Master Corcoran found Ms. Hoverman entitled to compensation for a Table SIRVA. Damages remained to be determined. Ms. Hoverman was represented by Leigh Finfer.

Theory of causation field:
Influenza vaccine, September 22, 2022, adult exact age not stated, right shoulder SIRVA. ENTITLEMENT CONCEDED; damages pending. Respondent conceded no prior right-shoulder pain/inflammation/dysfunction, onset within 48 hours, symptoms limited to the vaccinated shoulder, no more likely alternative cause, and residual effects exceeding six months. Public concession decision contains no detailed treatment chronology. Chief Special Master Corcoran, September 10, 2025. Attorney Leigh Finfer.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00645-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-10-20
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 09/10/2025) regarding 14 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00645-UNJ Document 17 Filed 10/20/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-645V
JOAN HOVERMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: September 10, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Dorian Hurley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On April 15, 2025, Joan Hoverman 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 right shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following her receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
September 22, 2022. Petition at Preamble. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the
residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior
award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. Id. at ¶¶ 11-13.
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-00645-UNJ Document 17 Filed 10/20/25 Page 2 of 2
On September 10, 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 states that,
[the Division of Injury Compensation Programs] has
concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with
SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically,
[P]etitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or
dysfunction of her right shoulder prior to vaccination; pain
occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an
intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of motion
was 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. 42 C.F.R. §§
100.3(a), (c)(10). Additionally, based on the medical records
outlined above, [P]etitioner suffered the residual effects of her
condition for more than six months. Therefore, based on the
record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-13(a)(1)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 300aa11(c)(1)(D)(i).
Id. at 6-7.
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