Caldwell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-1296V

RONDA CALDWELL, as administrator Chief Special Master Corcoran and legal representative of ESTATE OF DONNA CALDWELL, Filed: August 20, 2025 Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Jonathan Joseph Svitak, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Woodridge, IL, for Petitioner.

Ryan Pohlman Miller, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 On September 14, 2022, Donna J. Caldwell (“Ms. Caldwell”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). After Ms. Caldwell’s passing, Ronda Caldwell (“Petitioner”) was substituted as Petitioner in this matter, as the administrator and legal representative of the estate of Ms. Caldwell. ECF Nos. 31, 36-37. On October 4, 2021, Ms. Caldwell received an influenza (“flu”) vaccine, a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a). Petitioner alleges that Ms. Caldwell sustained a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as defined in the Table; she further alleges that the flu vaccine caused Ms. Caldwell’s alleged shoulder injury, and that Ms. Caldwell suffered the residual effects of her alleged injury for more than six months.

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.

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).

Respondent denies that Ms. Caldwell sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the vaccine caused Ms. Caldwell’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that her current condition and/or death were sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.

Nevertheless, on August 19, 2025, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, stating that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. I find the stipulation reasonable and adopt it as my decision awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Stipulation, I award the following compensation: A lump sum of $20,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner, as legal representative of the Estate of Donna Caldwell. Stipulation ¶ 8. This amount represents compensation for all items of damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id. I approve the requested amount for Petitioner’s compensation. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, 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.

    
    

     



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 4. Petitioner alleges that decedent suffered a left Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) within the time period set forth in the Table. She further alleges that decedent experienced the residual effects of this condition for more than six months.

5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages arising out of the alleged vaccine injury.

6. Respondent denies that decedent suffered a Table SIRVA injury; denies that any vaccine caused decedent’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that decedent’s subsequent condition and/or death were sequelae of a vaccine-related injury.

7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment: A lump sum of $20,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, as legal representative of the Estate of Donna Caldwell. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in any proceeding upon this petition.

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