VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00665
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00665
Petitioner: Sylvia Richardson
Filed: 2025-04-17
Decided: 2025-11-24
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2024-09-18
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 62500

AI-assisted case summary:
On April 17, 2025, Sylvia Richardson filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered on September 18, 2024 caused a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration and that the injury lasted more than six months.

Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding entitlement. The public ruling states that respondent agreed her injury was consistent with Table SIRVA, including no prior shoulder history, pain within 48 hours, pain limited to the vaccinated shoulder, no other identified cause, and residual effects lasting more than six months. The public documents do not describe her clinical course beyond those Table findings.

Chief Special Master Corcoran found Ms. Richardson entitled to compensation on August 25, 2025. On November 24, 2025, he awarded $62,500.00 for pain and suffering as a lump sum through counsel's IOLTA account.

Theory of causation field:
Adult petitioner; influenza vaccine September 18, 2024; Table SIRVA. COMPENSATED. Respondent conceded entitlement; public text lacks detailed clinical chronology. Entitlement August 25, 2025; damages November 24, 2025. Award $62,500.00 pain/suffering. Petition filed April 17, 2025.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00665-0
Date issued/filed: 2025-09-25
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 08/25/2025) 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-00665-UNJ Document 17 Filed 09/25/25 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0665V
SYLVIA RICHARDSON,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v.
Filed: August 25, 2025
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.
Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On April 17, 2025, Sylvia Richardson 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 a September 18, 2024 influenza (“flu”) vaccination
caused her to suffer a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition
at 1. Petitioner further alleges that her injury 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 August 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. Specifically, Respondent states that “petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA
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-00665-UNJ Document 17 Filed 09/25/25 Page 2 of 2
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no history of pain,
inflammation, or dysfunction of his 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.” Id. at
4. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition
for more than six months, and that 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

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00665-1
Date issued/filed: 2025-12-31
Pages: 4
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/24/2025) 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-00665-UNJ Document 28 Filed 12/31/25 Page 1 of 4
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0665V
SYLVIA RICHARDSON, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: November 24, 2025
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.
Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On April 17, 2025, Sylvia Richardson 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 a September 18, 2024 influenza (“flu”) vaccination
caused her to suffer a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition
at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.
On August 25, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation. On November 21, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $62,500.00, in
pain and suffering. 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-00665-UNJ Document 28 Filed 12/31/25 Page 2 of 4
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $62,500.00, in pain and suffering, 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-00665-UNJ Document 28 Filed 12/31/25 Page 3 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
)
SYLVIA RICHARDSON, )
)
Petitioner, ) No. 25-665V
) Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
v. )
)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH )
AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
___________________________________)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On April 17, 2025, Sylvia Richardson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Act”),
alleging that a September 18, 2024 influenza vaccine caused her to suffer a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. Petition at
1. On August 22, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule
4(c) Report recommending compensation under the terms of the Act. ECF No. 13. On August
25, 2025, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.
ECF No. 14. Respondent proposes the following proffer on award of compensation.
I. Items of Compensation
Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
$62,500.00 in pain and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). This amount represents all
elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).
Petitioner agrees.

Case 1:25-vv-00665-UNJ Document 28 Filed 12/31/25 Page 4 of 4
II. Form of the Award
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respondent recommends that the Court’s decision and judgment award compensation as a lump
sum payment of $62,500.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel IOLTA
account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Sylvia Richardson.1
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
JULIA M. COLLISON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ Rachelle P. Bishop
RACHELLE P. BISHOP
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
(202) 616-3662
Rachelle.P.Bishop@usdoj.gov
Dated: November 21, 2025
1 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 unreimbursed
expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
2