In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 20-0201V

UNPUBLISHED

BETTY DAVIS,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: May 13, 2022

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA)

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On February 25, 2020, Betty Davis 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 she received on 

December 18, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit 

of the Office of Special Masters.

On June 7, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to 

compensation for her Table SIRVA. On May 13, 2022, Respondent filed a proffer on 

award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $70,765.38, 

representing $70,000.00 in pain and suffering and 765.38 in past unreimbursable 

expenses. Proffer at I, III. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees 

1 Because this unpublished Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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

with the proffered award. Id. at I. 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 $70,765.38 (representing $70,000.00 in pain and suffering and 

$765.38 in past unreimbursable 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 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.
1

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

BETTY DAVIS,

Petitioner, 

 v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent.

 No. 20-201V

 Chief Special Master Corcoran (SPU)

 ECF

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On February 25, 2020, Betty Davis (“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”), as amended. Petitioner alleges she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”) Table injury as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on 

December 18, 2018. Petition at 1. On June 29, 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) Table 

injury. ECF No. 22. On July 7, 2021, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement 

finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF Nos. 25

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.
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 $765.38. 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 following: a lump sum payment of $70,765.38, in the form of a 

check payable to petitioner.1

III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

Lump sum payable to petitioner, Betty Davis: $70,765.38

Respectfully submitted, 

BRIAN M. BOYNTON

Principal Deputy 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

DARRYL R. WISHARD

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

s/ Adriana Teitel

ADRIANA TEITEL

Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, DC 20044-0146

Tel: (202) 616-3677

Email: adriana.teitel@usdoj.gov

Dated: May 13, 2022