United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Aguirre v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided May 4, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-1590V

SUSAN AGUIRRE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: March 31, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

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

James Connor Daughton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION 1 On October 7, 2024, Susan Aguirre 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza vaccination she received on October 12, 2023. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed at March 30, 2026, ¶¶ 2, 4. Petitioner further alleges that she has suffered the residual effects of her vaccine-related injury for more than six months. Stipulation at ¶ 4. “Respondent denies that Petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury; denies that the flu vaccine caused Petitioner’s alleged shoulder injury, or any other injury; and denies that Petitioner’s current condition is a sequela of a vaccine-related injury.” Stipulation at ¶ 6.

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).

Nevertheless, on March 30, 2026, the parties filed the attached joint stipulation, 3 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 $10,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner. Stipulation at ¶ 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. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

The filed Stipulation included an electronic signature page that has been removed from the attachment to protect the confidential information of the signers.

4 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.

01ÿ345ÿ610357ÿ839358ÿ 6 3ÿ ÿ575 9ÿ908ÿ 5ÿ ÿ85 09ÿ9835 8ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿÿ ÿ ÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ !ÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ "#ÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ #ÿ2345678-ÿ9$(:ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ $%&ÿ'(ÿ)*%)ÿ $; <ÿ /= >?ÿ,>. ÿ@ > ÿ)#ÿ$ = > ÿ +ÿ),ÿ-$!ÿÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ./ 0 #ÿ ÿ ÿ 8306930 1ÿ ÿ ÿ %;ÿ/> .ÿ;ABÿ. /C?> ÿ ÿ ;ÿ< ?? D EÿF> .Gÿÿ 5#ÿÿC.> ÿEC ÿ9H/ I:ÿ< ?0ÿ>ÿ/ ÿ< ÿ">== ÿ= F/ .> ÿC 0ÿ ;ÿ > >?ÿ->== ÿ JCBÿ$ F/ .> ÿ E>F!ÿ32ÿ##$#ÿKL88>>458ÿ ÿ4L3ÿ9 ;ÿH->== ÿ E>FI:#ÿÿ%;ÿ/ ÿ.M.ÿ= F/ .> ÿ< ÿ JC .ÿ>??E0?Bÿ?> 0ÿ ÿ/ N.ÿ= / ÿ <ÿ>ÿ.>. >?ÿ <?C O>ÿ9H<?CI:ÿ">== !ÿD; =;ÿ">== ÿ .ÿ= > 0ÿ ÿ ;ÿ->== ÿ JCBÿ%>A?ÿ ;ÿH%>A?I:!ÿ32ÿ$#(##ÿKÿ588#L9>:#ÿÿ 2#ÿÿ ÿ= "0ÿ>ÿ<?Cÿ">== ÿ ÿ'= Aÿ52!ÿ282L#ÿÿ L#ÿÿ%;ÿ">== ÿD>.ÿ>0F . 0ÿD ; ÿ ;ÿ 0ÿ > .#ÿÿ 3#ÿÿ ÿ>??E.ÿ ;> ÿ/ ÿ.C<<0ÿ< Fÿ>ÿ.; C?0ÿ JCBÿ?> 0ÿ ÿ">== ÿ >0F . > ÿ9H-I:ÿD ; ÿ ;ÿ Fÿ/ 0ÿ. ÿ< ;ÿ ÿ ;ÿ%>A?ÿ< ?? D Eÿ>0F . > ÿ <ÿ ;ÿ">== #ÿÿ ÿ<C ;ÿ>??E.ÿ ;> ÿ/ ÿP/ =0ÿ ;ÿ. 0C>?ÿ<<= .ÿ <ÿ ;ÿ >??E0ÿ JCBÿ< ÿF ÿ ;> ÿ. PÿF ;.#ÿ 6#ÿÿ ÿ/. .ÿ ;> ÿ ;ÿ;>.ÿA ÿ ÿ/ ÿ>D>0ÿ ÿ. ?F ÿ <ÿ>ÿ= " ?ÿ>= ÿ < ÿ0>F>E.ÿ>.ÿ>ÿ.C? ÿ <ÿ ;ÿ>??E0ÿ JCB#ÿ 23ÿÿ45678959ÿ5956ÿÿ75 895ÿ6695ÿÿ4ÿ5ÿ9ÿ5956ÿÿ5ÿÿ 95ÿ 65ÿ75 895 6ÿ5 5ÿ685ÿ9ÿ8ÿ9ÿ8 5ÿ9ÿ9ÿ5956ÿÿ 895 6ÿ 59ÿ 89 89ÿ6ÿÿ65!5ÿ8ÿÿ 95"55ÿ93ÿ #3ÿÿ$999 ÿ5ÿ8 5"65ÿ786 896ÿ5ÿ756ÿ95 5 5566ÿ98%ÿ 55ÿÿ5ÿ 6656ÿ5%559ÿ5&ÿ6ÿ5ÿ655ÿ9ÿÿÿ5 689ÿ68ÿ5ÿ5955ÿ% 9 ÿ5ÿ 8&759689ÿ56 5ÿ9ÿ7 7ÿ'ÿ8ÿ 6ÿ 7893ÿ '3ÿÿ6ÿ6889ÿ6ÿ7 5ÿ5ÿ9ÿ59ÿ8ÿ &59ÿ55 9 ÿÿ5 689ÿ 896659ÿ% ÿ 5ÿ5&6ÿ8ÿ 6ÿ 789ÿ9ÿ5ÿ75 895ÿ6ÿ5ÿ9ÿ55 89ÿ8ÿ5 5 5ÿ 8&759689ÿ 769ÿ8ÿ(0ÿ)33*3ÿ+ÿ,--"0./0/.0ÿ5ÿ5 5ÿ8ÿ15ÿ9ÿ1&9ÿ5 56ÿ%ÿ665ÿ 5ÿ88%9 ÿ 95ÿ 8&759689ÿ7&592ÿ ÿ&7ÿ6&ÿ8ÿ3456555755ÿ8ÿ5ÿ7 ÿ 8 ÿ9ÿ*1ÿ5786ÿ8ÿ 895 6ÿ 8965 6ÿ89ÿ 89ÿ8ÿ78&7ÿ 665&59ÿ8ÿ 8953ÿÿ 6ÿ&89ÿ5756596ÿ 8&759689ÿ8ÿÿ& 56ÿ ÿ%8ÿ5ÿ 5ÿ95ÿ(0ÿ)33*3ÿ+ÿ,--".:/03ÿ ÿ ;3ÿÿ6ÿ6889ÿ6ÿ7 5ÿ5ÿ5ÿ59ÿ8ÿ &59ÿ89ÿ59 5&59ÿ9ÿ 6ÿ 65ÿ9ÿ5ÿ 895ÿ6ÿ5ÿ8 ÿÿ7875ÿ9ÿ&5ÿ55 89ÿ8ÿ5 5 5ÿ 8&759689ÿ769ÿ8ÿ(0ÿ )33*3ÿ+ÿ,--"0./0/.0ÿ9ÿ9ÿ77 89ÿ5ÿ756ÿ%ÿ6& ÿ8ÿ 5ÿ78 55 9 6ÿ585ÿ 5ÿ675 ÿ&65ÿ8ÿ%ÿ56895ÿ8956 ÿ556ÿ9ÿ 866ÿ9 5ÿ9ÿ78 55 9 ÿ789ÿ 6ÿ 893ÿ .-3ÿÿ<5 895ÿ9ÿ75 895 6ÿ895ÿ575659ÿÿ 8&759689ÿ8ÿ5ÿ78 5ÿ 769ÿ8ÿ 6ÿ 789ÿ6ÿ98ÿ8ÿ9ÿ5&6ÿ8ÿ65 56ÿ8ÿ% ÿ5ÿ<8 &ÿ6ÿ98ÿ 7&ÿ5ÿ95ÿ(0ÿ)33*3ÿ+ÿ,--".:/ 0ÿ8ÿ5ÿ5=59ÿÿ7&59ÿ6ÿ559ÿ&5ÿ8ÿ 9ÿ 5689ÿ5ÿ5=75 5ÿ8ÿ5ÿ&5ÿ95ÿ9ÿ5ÿ 8&759689ÿ78 &6ÿ969 5ÿ78 56ÿ >55ÿ8ÿ5ÿ5ÿ5956ÿ78 &6ÿ/8 5ÿ9ÿ 5ÿ??ÿ8ÿ5ÿ8 ÿ5 ÿ ÿ/(0ÿ )33*3ÿ+ÿ.,;2ÿ5ÿ65!300ÿ8ÿÿ59 56ÿÿ78 5ÿ5ÿ65 56ÿ89ÿÿ75"7 ÿ663ÿ 0ÿ 223ÿÿ456789ÿ758ÿ 59ÿÿ555ÿÿ59ÿ596ÿ579ÿ558ÿ 59ÿÿ 555ÿÿÿÿ 59ÿÿ8ÿ758ÿ9ÿ5598ÿÿ ÿ 33 3ÿÿ0!!55"2#$%&ÿ'8ÿ ÿ8ÿ5(556ÿÿ89ÿ5 6ÿ93ÿÿ 3ÿÿ)8ÿ58ÿ59ÿ8ÿ5986ÿ8ÿ588ÿ59ÿ 58ÿ5&ÿ8*8 ÿÿ596ÿ55ÿ ÿ5986+ÿ88ÿ59ÿ59ÿ&ÿ59ÿ5ÿ9878ÿ8*898&ÿ8ÿ7986ÿ(8ÿ 59ÿÿÿ 59ÿÿ8ÿ8ÿ86ÿÿ8ÿ898ÿÿ898ÿ5ÿ987 58ÿ6ÿ5ÿ ÿ99ÿÿ ÿ 33 3ÿ0!!55"2#$5%ÿ59ÿ$%&ÿ59ÿ'8ÿÿ8ÿ99ÿÿ ÿ 33 3ÿ ÿ0!!55"2#$%ÿ59ÿ$%3ÿ 203ÿÿ,9ÿ8 9ÿÿ8ÿ56789ÿ88ÿ9ÿ555ÿÿ59ÿ&ÿ898&ÿ9ÿ898+ÿ 9( 5ÿ556&ÿ59ÿ9ÿ85ÿÿ898+ÿ8&ÿ8*8 &ÿ5795&ÿ8ÿÿ 59&ÿ8ÿ8(8ÿ8(56ÿ59ÿ99956ÿ8858&ÿ5-ÿ59ÿ58ÿ8ÿ 98ÿ 58ÿ59ÿ8ÿ8856ÿÿ.85ÿ59ÿ. 759ÿ8(8ÿ7ÿ596ÿ59ÿ5ÿ59ÿÿ58ÿÿ 59ÿ$9 9ÿ588789&ÿ' 789&ÿ57&ÿ5758&ÿÿÿ8(8&ÿ8*898ÿ59ÿ5ÿ 8759ÿÿ58(8ÿ/9ÿÿ95 8%ÿ5ÿ5(8ÿ889ÿ&ÿÿ5(8ÿ889ÿ&ÿÿÿ 8858ÿ8ÿ786ÿÿ9ÿ8ÿ ÿÿ0885ÿ 57&ÿ98ÿ8ÿ1595ÿ2598ÿ,9'6ÿ 7 8959ÿ457&ÿ ÿ 33 3ÿÿ0!!ÿ55"2!ÿ8ÿ8-3&ÿ9ÿ59ÿ&ÿÿ9ÿ596ÿ56ÿ9ÿ ÿ &ÿ596ÿ59ÿ5ÿ/99ÿÿ9/99&ÿ88ÿÿ988ÿ895ÿ9'8ÿÿÿ85ÿÿ 898ÿ89ÿ7&ÿÿ588ÿÿ5(8ÿ88ÿ7&ÿ8ÿÿ(5959ÿ57988ÿ9ÿ 38ÿ2 &ÿ ! 0&ÿ5ÿ588ÿ6ÿ898ÿ9ÿ5ÿ89ÿÿ(598ÿ7 8959ÿ8ÿ9ÿÿ 5 ÿ38ÿ4&ÿ ! &ÿ9ÿ8ÿ 98ÿ58ÿ ÿÿ0885ÿ 57ÿ5ÿ89ÿ13ÿ "2#!23ÿ 3ÿÿ,ÿ898ÿÿ8ÿÿÿ896ÿÿ' 789&ÿÿ588789ÿ5ÿ8ÿ(58ÿ 9ÿ8ÿ98ÿÿ8ÿ ÿ9ÿ85ÿÿ88ÿÿÿÿ8ÿ583ÿÿ

0ÿ 234ÿÿ56ÿ789ÿ 9 ÿ79ÿ6ÿ7ÿ 9ÿÿ9 ÿÿ 979ÿ67ÿ78ÿ789ÿ79 ÿ 6ÿ78 ÿ77ÿÿ6ÿ789ÿ7ÿ6ÿ99ÿ ÿ6ÿ7ÿ979ÿ 97ÿÿ67ÿ78ÿÿ 9 ÿ787ÿÿÿ 979ÿ67ÿ78ÿ789ÿ79 ÿ6ÿ78 ÿ7 7ÿ789ÿ789ÿ79 ÿ 977997ÿÿ78 ÿ77ÿ8ÿ 9ÿ 9ÿ7ÿ789ÿ9ÿ 97ÿ6ÿ9789ÿ74ÿÿ 2!4ÿÿ"8 ÿ77ÿ9#9 9ÿÿ6ÿÿ 979ÿ9 779ÿ977997ÿ6ÿ 7ÿÿ 9ÿ9ÿ9ÿ789ÿ$7ÿ88ÿ% 9ÿ5 ÿ& 7ÿ6ÿ2'(!ÿÿ99ÿ9#97ÿ ÿ789 9ÿ79ÿÿ 8ÿ'ÿ 94ÿÿ"899ÿÿ 79ÿÿ 9997ÿÿ789ÿ7ÿ6ÿ789ÿ 79ÿ8997ÿ7ÿ)9ÿÿ97ÿÿ7ÿÿÿ7ÿÿ78 ÿ789ÿ78ÿÿ899ÿ9#9 ÿ779ÿ ÿ9ÿ 99ÿ74ÿÿ"89ÿ79ÿ6789ÿ 99ÿÿ97ÿ787ÿ789ÿÿ9 9ÿÿ78 ÿ 7 7ÿÿ9697ÿÿ 9ÿ6ÿ789ÿ79 ÿ9 979ÿ 7ÿÿ7ÿ 7ÿ*ÿ 7ÿ6ÿ 9ÿÿ6789ÿ787ÿÿ8 9ÿÿ789ÿ79ÿ6ÿ789ÿ ÿÿ7ÿÿÿ789ÿ 79 ÿ6ÿ 97ÿ 87ÿÿ7ÿ ÿ7ÿ6ÿÿ9 9ÿ78 ÿ 99974ÿÿ 2+4ÿÿ"8 ÿ77ÿ8ÿ7ÿ 9ÿ79ÿÿÿ ÿ ÿ789ÿ,79ÿ779ÿÿ789ÿ 997ÿ6ÿ-978ÿÿ-ÿ9 9ÿ787ÿ789ÿ6ÿ 9ÿ9ÿ9779 ÿ9 9ÿ ÿÿ ÿ789ÿ ÿÿ9779 ÿ97ÿ 79ÿÿ787ÿ9779ÿ6699ÿÿ ÿ79ÿ ÿ789ÿ% 9ÿ5 ÿ" 94ÿ 2(4ÿÿ&ÿ 87ÿÿ 7ÿ6ÿ9779ÿ8999ÿ8ÿ ÿ9.ÿ7ÿ9779 ÿ 89ÿ9#97ÿ 77ÿ 9 ÿ*ÿ 4ÿ /01ÿ34ÿ56789:;6730ÿ ÿ ÿ

0ÿ Respectfully submitted, PETITIONER:

SUSAN AGUIRRE

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL:

~~~e~ ANNON HEATHER L. PEARLMAN AW GROUP, P.C. Deputy Director Hobson Valley Dr., Ste. 101 Torts Branch odridge, Illinois 60517 Civil Division (312) 578-9501 U.S. Department of Justice [email protected] P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH RESPONDENT: AND HUMAN SERVICES: George R. Grimes - DigitallysignedbyGeorgeR.

Grimes -S16 S16 Date: 2026.03 .18 08:55:19 -04'00'

CAPT GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD, MPH Y.~» Director, Division oflnjury Trial Attorney Compensation Programs Torts Branch, Civil Division Health Systems Bureau U.S. Department of Justice Health Resources and Services P.O. Box 146 Administration Benjamin Franklin Station U.S. Department of Health Washington, DC 20044-0146 and Human Services Tel: (202) 305-3907 5600 Fishers Lane, 14W-18 [email protected] Rockville, MD 20857

RSign Envelope ID: ENV04631076-7044-ECCB-2795-AEFA 03/20/2026 14:25 PM UTC

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.