United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Lugo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided June 15, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-1202V

RAQUEL LUGO, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: May 13, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Wendy Cox, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, Austin, TX, for Petitioner.

Mikaela Torbert, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1 On July 18, 2025, Raquel Lugo 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following an influenza vaccination she received on September 29, 2024. Petition at ¶¶ 5, 18. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On March 31, 2026, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for her SIRVA. On May 12, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00 for pain and suffering. 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 $65,000.00 for pain and suffering, 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

RAQUEL LUGO, Petitioner, v. No. 25-1202V (ECF) Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1 On July 18, 2025, Raquel Lugo (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccine that she received on September 29, 2024. ECF No. 1 at 1-2. On March 26, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) report indicating that this case was appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Vaccine Act for a SIRVA Table Injury. ECF No. 22. On March 31, 2026, Chief Special Master Corcoran issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation. ECF No. 24.

I. Items of Compensation Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded the following:

This Proffer does not include attorneys’ fees and costs, which the parties intend to address after the Damages Decision is issued.

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $65,000.00 for pain and suffering.

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

This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award The parties recommend that the 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: 2 A lump sum payment of $65,000.00, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Raquel Lugo.

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

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 JAMES V. LOPEZ 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering. /s/ Mikaela D. Torbert MIKAELA D. TORBERT Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Telephone: (202) 532-3993 DATE: May 12, 2026 Email: [email protected]

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

RAQUEL LUGO, Petitioner, v. No. 25-1202V (ECF) Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on May 12, 2026, the foregoing PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION was served via email upon petitioner.

/s/ Mikaela D. Torbert MIKAELA D. TORBERT Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 Telephone: (202) 532-3993 Email: [email protected]

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