United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Sundquist v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided April 21, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-1192V

LINDA SUNDQUIST, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: March 17, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

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

Ryan Nelson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 On July 17, 2025, Linda Sundquist 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 that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on November 15, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On January 30, 2026, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On March 17, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $68,086.00. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award.

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).

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 $68,086.00 (comprised of $67,500.00 in pain and suffering and $586.00 in unreimbursed 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 ) LINDA SUNDQUIST, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) No. 25-1192V v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran ) ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN ) SERVICES, ) ) Respondent. ) ) RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On July 17, 2025, Linda Sundquist (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation (“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34, as amended (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on November 15, 2023. Petition at 1. On January 30, 2026, 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 the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.

ECF No. 16; ECF No. 17.

I. Items of Compensation Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $67,500.00 in pain and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.

Based on evidence supplied by petitioner, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $586.00 in unreimbursed expenses. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(A). 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 1: a lump sum payment of $68,086.00, 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 VORIS E. JOHNSON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division

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 pain and suffering. /s/ Ryan A. Nelson RYAN A. NELSON 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) 616-4027 [email protected] Dated: March 17, 2026

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