United States Court of Federal Claims, 2026

Middleton v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided September 23, 2026 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-1474V

RYAN MIDDLETON,

Petitioner, Chief Special Master Corcoran v.

Filed: August 24, 2026 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., Memphis, TN , for Petitioner.

Jeremy Mauritzen, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 4, 2025, Ryan Middleton 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on September 25, 2024. Petition at 1, 4. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On April 10, 2026, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation. On August 21, 2026, Respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $70,985.59, consisting of $70,000.00 in pain and suffering, $756.61 in past unreimbursable expenses, and $228.98 in lost earnings. 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 $70,985.59 (consisting of $70,000.00 in pain and suffering, $756.61 in past unreimbursable expenses, and $228.98 in lost earnings), 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 RYAN MIDDLETON,

Petitioner, v. No. 25-1474V

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

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On September 4, 2025, Ryan Middleton (“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 he suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccine he received on September 25, 2024. Petition at 1. On April 10, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that this case is appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a SIRVA Table injury. See ECF No. 18. The same day, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 19.

I. Items of Compensation

A. Pain and Suffering Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $70,000.00 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 he incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $756.61. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.

C. Lost Earnings Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred lost earnings related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past lost wages in the amount of $228.98. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(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 $70,985.59 to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Ryan Middleton.

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/ JEREMY MAURITZEN JEREMY MAURITZEN 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) 598-7315 [email protected]

Dated: August 21, 2026

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that today, August 21, 2026, a copy of the foregoing pleading was served by electronic mail to William E. Cochran, Jr., at [email protected]. s/ Jeremy Mauritzen

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). 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. 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 lost earnings and future pain and suffering.

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