United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Kauffman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided March 27, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0694V

DEBRA KAUFFMAN, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: February 20, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Renee J. Gentry, The Law Office of Renee J. Gentry, Washington, DC, for Petitioner. Irene Angelica Firippis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On April 23, 2025, Debra Kauffman 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 alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table injury, after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 5, 2022. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 21.. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 27, 2025, I issued a ruling on entitlement, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On February 18, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $53,845.82, representing $52,500.00 for pain and suffering and $1,345.82 for past unreimbursable expenses. 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 $53,845.82, representing $52,500.00 for pain and suffering and $1,345.82 for actual 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.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

) DEBRA KAUFFMAN, )

) Petitioner, )

) No. 25-694V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran

) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, )

) Respondent. )

) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On April 23, 2025, Debra Kauffman (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended (the “Vaccine Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Petitioner alleges that she received an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 5, 2022, and thereafter suffered from a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1.

On October 27, 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 the same day, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 15; ECF No. 16. I. Item of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $52,500.00 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 $1,345.82. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

The above amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be 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 1:

A lump sum payment of $53,845.82 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner.

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 ALEXIS B. BABCOCK Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Irene A. Firippis IRENE A. FIRIPPIS 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) 305-3250

Dated: February 18, 2026 [email protected]

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). 1 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 medical expenses, future lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.

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