United States Court of Federal Claims, 2025

Daily v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Daily v. Secretary of Health and Human Services
United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided October 3, 2025 · Brian H. Corcoran
Daily v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 24-0420V

TRINA DAILY, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: September 3, 2025 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Margaret Armstrong, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On March 19, 2024, Trina Daily filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.1 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine which she received on November 18, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On December 23, 2024, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA corresponding to a listing on the Vaccine Injury Table, see 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a), (c)(10)).

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.

On September 2, 2025, Respondent filed the attached joint stipulation.2, 3 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 a lump sum of $62,400.22 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. 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

2 Usually, a proffer is filed by Respondent if the parties have reached an informal agreement regarding the appropriate amount of compensation to be awarded after an entitlement determination. However, in a minority of cases, the parties may choose to file a joint stipulation instead, reflecting more of a compromise regarding the compensation to be awarded. 3 In attaching the parties’ joint stipulation, I have omitted the last page – a VineSign form that includes personal information regarding Petitioner. 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.

lnesign Document ID: 1E905F6C-6D52-4C55-A478-F2EE07C816FE

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ) TRINA DAILY, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 24-420V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ) HUMAN SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. )

STIPULATION The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters: 1. Trina Daily, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (the "Vaccine Program").

The petition seeks compensation for injuries allegedly related to petitioner's receipt of a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis ("Tdap") vaccine, which is a vaccine contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the "Table"), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

2. Petitioner received the Tdap vaccine on November 18, 2022. 1 3. The vaccination was administered within the United States.

4. Petitioner sustained a left shoulder injury related to vaccination administration ("SIRVA") within the time period set forth in the Table following receipt of the Tdap vaccine,

1 On October 31, 2022, petitioner received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines against COVID-19 are not contained in the Vaccine Injury Table. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-14 and 42 C.F.R. § I 00.3(a). Pursuant to the declaration issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 247d-6d, 247d-6e), claims for alleged injuries from COVID-19 countermeasures, including vaccines, may be compensable under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program ("CICP''). See 85 Fed. Reg. 15198, 15202 (March 17, 2020).

he signed document can be validated at https://app.vinesign.comNerify and experienced the residual effects of a SIRVA injury for more than six months.

5. There is not a preponderance of evidence demonstrating that petitioner's injury is due to a factor unrelated to vaccination.

6. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for damages on petitioner's behalf as a result of petitioner's condition.

7. Accordingly, petitioner is entitled to compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act for her SIRVA Table injury. Therefore, a decision should be entered awarding the compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with the tenns of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(l), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue the following vaccine compensation payment: A lump swn of$62,400.22 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

9. As soon as practicable after the entry ofjudgment on entitlement in this case, and after petitioner bas filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to U.S.C. § 300aa-2l(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before the special master to award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this petition.

10. Petitioner and petitioner's attorney represent that compensation to be provided pursuant to this Stipulation is not for any items or services for which the Program is not primarily liable under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-l 5(g), to the extent that payment bas been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under any State compensation programs, insurance policies, Federal or State health benefits programs (other than Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.)), or by entities that provide health services on a pre-paid basis.

11. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 of this Stipulation and any amounts awarded pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(i), subject to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

12. The parties and their attorneys further agree and stipulate that, except for any award for attomeyst fees and litigation costs, and past unreimbursed expensest the money provided pursuant to this Stipulation wilJ be used solely for the benefit of petitioner as contemplated by a strict construction of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-1 S(a) and (d), and subject to the conditions of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(g) and (h).

13. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in petitioner's individual capacity, and on behalf of petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, (a) does forever irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit, and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements, judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses, and all demands of whatever kind or nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or hereafter could be timely brought in the Court of Federal Claims, under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § JOOaa-10 et seq., (i) on accom1t of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of petitioner resulting fro~ or that may be alleged to have resulted from, the vaccinations administered on October 31 and November 18, 2022, and (ii) that petitioner has bad, now has, or hereafter may have with respect to the injury that gave rise to the petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about March 19, 2024, in the United Stat.es Court of Federal Claims as

petition No. 24-420V; and (b) waives any and all rights to any compensation that may be available under the Cowitermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), 42 U.S.C. § 247d- 6e (or an action under 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d(d)), for a claim alleging that a covered countenneasure, including the COVID-19 vaccination administered on October 31, 2022, on its own or in combination with the Tdap vaccination administered on November 18, 2022, caused or seriously aggravated the injuries that were the subject of the petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about March 19, 2024, in the United States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 24-420V, including a(n) shoulder injury, for which petitioner will receive compensation pursuant to this Stipulation. If petitioner has such a claim currently pending with the CICP, petitioner hereby withdraws such claim for compensation in the CICP.2 If no claim for compensation has been filed in the CICP as of the date this Stipulation is filed, petitioner waives the right to file a claim as described in this paragraph for compensation in the CICP.

14. If petitioner should die prior to entry ofjudgment., this agreement shall be voidable upon proper notice to the Court on behalf of either or both of the parties.

15. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete confonnity with the tenns of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties' settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the soJe discretion ofeither party.

16. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the

After entry ofjudgment reflecting a decision consistent with the tem1S of this Stipulation, petitioner agrees that respondent will send this Stipulation to the CICP as evidence of petitioner's withdrawal of their CICP claim and waiver of any potential compensation under the CICP. parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this Stipulation may n,flect a compromise of the parties' respective positions as to amount of damages, and further, that a change in the nature of the injury or condition or in the items of compensation sought, is not grounds to modify or revise this agreement.

17. The Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's shoulder injury or any other injury or her current condition; however, petitioner has satisfied the Table criteria to establish entitlement to compensation.

18. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns.

END OF STIPULATION

s Respectfully submitted, PETITIONER:

TRINA DAILY ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE PETITIONER: OF THE A'ITORNEY GENERAL:

011.k AMY A. SENERTII .,'° ~~P¼~ HEATIIER L. PEARLMAN Counsel for Petitioner Deputy Director MULLER BRAZIL Torts Branch, Civil Division Twining Road, Suite 208 U.S. Department of Justice Dresher, PA 19025 P.O. Box 146 (215) 885-1655 Benjamin Franklin Station [email protected] Washington, DC 20044-0146

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH RESPONDENT: AND HUMAN SERVICES: Jeffrey S• Olgltally signed by Jeffrey S. Beach -S Date: 2025.08.27 Beach -S 15;1003:9£00' for ~ v- ~ CAPT GEORGE REED GRIMES, MD, MPH MARGARET ARMS'ffiNG Director, Division of Injury Trial Attorney Compensation Programs Torts Branch, Civil Division Health Systems Bureau U.S. Department of Justice Health Resources and Services Administration P.O. Box 146 U.S. Department of Health Benjamin Franklin Station and Human Services Washington, DC 20044-0146 5600 Fishers Lane, 08W-25A 202-6 I 6-4043 Rockville, MD 20857 [email protected]

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