Cash v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0285V

SHILAH CASH,

Petitioner, v. Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Filed: June 17, 2026 HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1

On February 18, 2025, Shilah Cash 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”) resulting from a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine received on December 20, 2022. Petition at 1; Stipulation, filed June 17, 2026, at ¶¶ 2-4. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the United States, she suffered residual effects of the injury for more than six months, and there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on her behalf as a result of her injury. Petition at ¶¶ 27-29; Stipulation at ¶¶ 3-5. “Respondent denies that petitioner sustained a SIRVA Table injury by the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; and denies that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine caused petitioner any other injury or petitioner’s current condition.” 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 June 17, 2026, 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 $91,306.13, to be paid through an ACH deposit to

Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner; and

• A lump sum of $693.87, representing reimbursement of a Medicaid lien for services rendered on behalf of petitioner, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to The Rawlings Company LLC:

The Rawlings Company LLC ATTN: Travis A. Bell Reference No.: 166255686 P.O. Box 2000 La Grange, KY 40031-2000 Stipulation at ¶ 8. These amounts represent 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.