Ayala-Valdez v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-2148V

ANGELA AYALA-VALDEZ, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: September 23, 2024 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Irene Angelica Firippis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On December 20, 2023, Angela Ayala-Valdez 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”), a defined Table injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 20, 2022. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 7. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On September 23, 2024, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. In this case, Respondent filed a combined Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer on award of compensation (“Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $70,740.63, representing compensation in the amounts of 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). $70,000.00 for past pain and suffering and $740.63 for past unreimbursable expenses.

Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer at 6. 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 Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer.

Pursuant to the terms stated in combined Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer,3 I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $70,740.63, representing compensation in the amounts of $70,000.00 for actual pain and suffering and $740.63 for actual unreimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable 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.4 IT IS SO ORDERED.

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

3 Because the Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer contains detailed medical information, it will not be filed as an attachment to this Decision.

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.