United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Tillman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 4, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 22-0762V

CHARLES TILLMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: December 15, 2025 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Sara J. Watkins, Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C., for Petitioner.

Madelyn Weeks, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On July 13, 2022, Charles Tillman 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza vaccination he received on September 29, 2020. Petition at ¶ 2, 15. 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 his SIRVA. On December 12, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $10,000.00 in compensation. Proffer at 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.

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).

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $10,000.00, 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.

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

CHARLES TILLMAN, Petitioner, No. 22-762V Chief Special Master Corcoran v. ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 13, 2022, Charles Tillman (“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”). On September 14, 2023, petitioner filed an amended petition, alleging that he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on or about September 29, 2020. ECF No. 23 at 3. On January 24, 2024, petitioner filed a Motion for a Ruling on the Record (“Motion”), arguing that he has established entitlement to compensation for a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. ECF No. 29. Respondent filed his Response to Petitioner’s Motion on February 21, 2024, recommending that entitlement to compensation be denied. ECF No. 30. On August 5, 2025, the Court issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner is entitled to compensation.1 ECF No. 33.

Respondent has no objection to the amount of the proffered award of damages set forth herein.

Assuming the Chief Special Master issues a damages decision in conformity with this proffer, respondent waives his right to seek review of such damages decision. However, respondent reserves his right, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(e), to seek review of the Chief Special Master’s August 5, 2025, entitlement decision.

I. Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $10,000.00, which represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).2 Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment, as described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: A lump sum payment of $10,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Charles Tillman.

Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

Respectfully submitted, BRETT A. SHUMATE Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division TRACI R. PATTON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

2 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering. s/MADELYN E. WEEKS MADELYN E. WEEKS Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Tel.: (202) 305-3262 Email: [email protected] Dated: December 12, 2025

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