In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 19-1118V 

UNPUBLISHED 

SUSAN WATSON, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: September 27, 2021 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA) 

 

Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for Petitioner. 

Ida Nassar, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

 On July 31, 2019, Susan Watson 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”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on 

January 11, 2018. Petition at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit 

of the Office of Special Masters. 

On January 8, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled 

to compensation for SIRVA. On September 27, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award 

of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded a total of $61,748.26, 

consisting of $60,000.00 in pain and suffering and $1,748.26 in past unreimbursable 

medical expenses. Proffer at 2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 

required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the EGovernment Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (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 (2012). 
2

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 $61,748.26, consisting of $60,000.00 in pain and suffering and 

$1,748.26 in past unreimbursable medical expenses in the form of a check payable 

to Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be 

available under Section 15(a). 

The clerk of the 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 

SUSAN WATSON, 

 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 

 Respondent. 

 No. 19-1118V 

 Chief Special Master Corcoran 

 ECF 

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

 On July 31, 2019, Susan Watson (“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 a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration 

(“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza 

vaccine she received on January 11, 2018. Petition at 1-2. On January 8, 2021, 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 that 

same date, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to 

compensation. ECF Nos. 21-22. 

I. Items of Compensation 

A. Pain and Suffering 

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $60,000.00 in pain and suffering. 

See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees. 
2 

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 $1,748.26. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa15(a)(1)(B). 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 following1: a lump sum payment of $61,748.26, in the form of a 

check payable to petitioner. 

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment 

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Susan Watson: $61,748.26 

Respectfully submitted, 

BRIAN M. BOYNTON 

Acting Assistant Attorney General 

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO 

Acting Director 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN 

Deputy Director 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 

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. 
3 

 LARA A. ENGLUND 

Assistant Director 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 

 /s/ Ida Nassar 

 IDA NASSAR 

 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) 616-4186 

DATED: September 27, 2021