United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Murphy v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 8, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-545V

STUART MURPHY, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: August 5, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

David Alexander Tierney, Rawls Law Group (Richmond), Richmond, VA, for Petitioner.

Alec Saxe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On April 10, 2024, Stuart Murphy 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 he suffered a Table injury – shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as the result of an influenza vaccination received on October 25, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 5, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On August 1, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $67,500.00 for pain and suffering. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report Conceding Entitlement to Compensation and Proffer of Damages at 6. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees

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). 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 Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $67,500.00 for 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. 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.

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