In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 18-1265V

UNPUBLISHED

WILLIAM DORRIS,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: April 13, 2020

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA)

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

petitioner.

Heather Lynn Pearlman, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On August 21, 2018, William Dorris filed a petition for compensation under the 

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.

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(the 

“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered shoulder injuries related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on 

October 25, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit 

of the Office of Special Masters.

On December 27, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner 

entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On April 13, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on 

award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $74,836.73.

Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. 

§ 300aa (2012).
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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 $74,836.73 (comprised of $72,500.00 for pain and suffering and 

$2,336.73 for unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to 

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

available under § 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.
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

WILLIAM DORRIS, 

Petitioner,

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

SERVICES,

Respondent. 

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No. 18-1265V 

 Chief Special Master Corcoran

ECF

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On August 21, 2018, William Dorris (“petitioner”) filed a petition for vaccine injury 

compensation alleging that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration 

(“SIRVA”) as result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 25, 2017. On 

December 23, 2019, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate 

under the terms of the Vaccine Act. On December 27, 2019, Chief Special Master Corcoran

issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to compensation. 

I. Items of Compensation 

Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded 

$74,836.73, comprised of $72,500.00 for pain and suffering and $2,336.73 for unreimbursable 

expenses. 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 

 Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner be made through a 
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lump sum payment of $74,836.73 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1 Petitioner 

agrees. 

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

 Respectfully submitted, 

JOSEPH H. HUNT

Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO

Acting Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

CATHARINE E. REEVES

Deputy Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

ALEXIS B. BABCOCK

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

/s/ Heather L. Pearlman 

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

U.S. Department of Justice 

P.O. Box 146 

Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

Phone: (202) 353-2699 

Email: heather.pearlman2@usdoj.gov 

DATED: April 13, 2020

 

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 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, respondent reserves the right to move the 

Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future 

medical expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.