United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Strickland v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided April 11, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-0794V

MICHAELA STRICKLAND, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: March 12, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Jubaile Abila, Groth Law Firm, S.C., Brookfield, WI, for Petitioner.

Adam Nemeth Muffett, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On May 23, 2024, Michaela Strickland filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the “Vaccine Act”), which she amended on January 22, 2025. Petitioner alleges that she “developed left arm pain and disability” due to a tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine received on August 11, 2021, and asserts an injury under section I(C)3 of the Vaccine Injury Table. Amended Petition at preamble, ¶ 19. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

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). 3 Section I(C) of the Table pertains to shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following a vaccine containing tetanus toxoid. 42 C.F.R. §100.3 (I)(C).

On January 27, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On March 12, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $40,000.00. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, 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 Proffer.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $40,000.00 (in pain and suffering), to be paid through an ACH deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement 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

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.

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) MICHAELA STRICKLAND, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 24-794V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On May 23, 2024, Michaela Strickland (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine she received on August 11, 2021. Petition at 1. On January 6, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report indicating that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury, and on January 27, 2025, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 14, 20.

I. Items of Compensation Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $40,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following1: a lump sum payment of $40,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.

III. Summary of Recommended Payment Following Judgment A lump sum payment to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner in the amount of $40,000.00.

Respectfully submitted, YAAKOV M. ROTH Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future lost earnings and future pain and suffering. /s/ Adam N. Muffett ADAM N. MUFFETT Trial Attorney U.S. Department of Justice Torts Branch, Civil Division P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-2895 [email protected]

Date: March 12, 2025

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