Trice v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-1565V

CYNTHIA TRICE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: July 30, 2026 v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

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

Sara DeStefano, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES 1

On September 22, 2025, Cynthia Trice 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 from Guillain Barre Syndrome as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on September 21, 2023. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On June 4, 2026, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On July 28, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $170,000.00 for pain and suffering. Proffer at 1. 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 $170,000.00 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

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

CYNTHIA TRICE,

Petitioner, v. No. 25-1565V

Chief Special Master Corcoran SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ECF HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION 1

On September 22, 2025, Cynthia Trice (“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 Guillan Barre Syndrome (“GBS”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3, as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on September 21, 2023. Petition at 1.

On June 4, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report concluding that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a GBS Table injury and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 18, 19.

I. Items of Compensation

Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $170,000.00 in 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 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award/Recommended Payment

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 $170,000.00 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Cynthia Trice. Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence 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 JULIA M. COLLISON Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Sara DeStefano SARA DESTEFANO 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) 307-6545

E-mail: [email protected]

DATED: July 28, 2026

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that today, July 28, 2026, a copy of the foregoing pleading was served by electronic mail to petitioner’s counsel of record.

/s/ Sara DeStefano