Sparks v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Sn the Anited States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 24-2151V

JENNIFER SPARKS, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: February 10, 2026

V.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

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

Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES"

On December 30, 2024, Jennifer Sparks filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.* (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from a human papillomavirus vaccine received on March 14, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On August 27, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On February 10, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer’) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $110,291.07. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. /d. Based on the record as a whole, | find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, | award Petitioner a lump sum payment of $110,291.07 (comprised of $110,000.00 for pain and suffering and $291.07 for past unreimbursable expenses), 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.? IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran

Brian H. Corcoran

Chief Special Master

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

JENNIFER SPARKS,

Petitioner, No. 24-2151V (ECF)

Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

New Nee Nee Nee re Nee Nee Nee Nee ee ee” ee”

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On December 30, 2024, Jennifer Sparks (“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 human papillomavirus vaccination that she received on March 14, 2023. ECF No. 1. On August 27, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending that petitioner be found entitled to compensation and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 19-20.

L Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $110,000.00 in pain and suffering.

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses

Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $291.07. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

These amounts represent 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 following: a lump sum payment of $110, 291.07, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.!

Ill. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Jennifer Sparks: $110, 291.07 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, unreimbursed expenses; future lost earnings; and future pain and suffering.

DATED: February 10, 2026

Respectfully submitted,

BRETT A. SHUMATE

Assistant Attorney General

JONATHAN D. GUYNN

Acting Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN

Deputy Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR.

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Rachelle P. Bishop

RACHELLE P. BISHOP

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 616-3662

[email protected]