In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 20-1240V

UNPUBLISHED

LENORA DONLIN,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: November 29, 2021

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA)

Kathleen Margaret, Lommen Abdo Law Firm, Minneapolis, MN , for Petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On September 21, 2020, Lenora Donlin 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 that was administered 

to her on September 9, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special 

Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On November 1, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner 

entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On November 29, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer 

on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $55,413.18 

(comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering, $3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87 

for unreimbursable medical expenses). Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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

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 $55,413.18 (comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering, 

$3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87 for 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

LENORA DONLIN, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. ) No. 20-1240V

) Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran

SECRETARY OF )

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

 )

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On October 29, 2021, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that 

petitioner suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) within the 

Table timeframe following an influenza vaccination, which was compensable under the National 

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34. Accordingly, 

on November 1, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement. 

I. Items of Compensation 

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $50,000.00 for pain and suffering, 

$3,519.31 for lost wages, and $1,893.87 for unreimbursable medical expenses. These amounts 

represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa15(a). Petitioner agrees.
2

II. Form of the Award

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made 

through a lump sum payment of $55,413.18 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

1

 This 

lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled 

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

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

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

DARRYL R. WISHARD

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

s/ LARA A. ENGLUND

LARA A. ENGLUND

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington D.C. 20044-0146

Tel: (202) 307-3013

E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: November 29, 2021

 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 medical 

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