United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Murphy v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 5, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-545V

STUART MURPHY Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: August 5, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

David Alexander Tierney, Rawls Law Group (Richmond), Richmond, VA, for Petitioner. Alec Saxe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

On April 10, 2024, Stuart Murphy 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on October 25, 2022. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the residual effects of his injury for more than six months, that the vaccine was administered within the United States, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on his behalf as a result of his injury. Id. at 1, 4. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 1, 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 Conceding Entitlement to Compensation and Proffer of Damages at 1. Specifically, Respondent has concluded that Petitioner’s injury is consistent with a SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury table. Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner has suffered the sequela of his injury for more than six months and all other legal requirements have been met 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

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).

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