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In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

Filed: May 7, 2021

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CLAYTON T. COLEMAN, * UNPUBLISHED

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Petitioner, * No. 18-352V

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v. * Special Master Dorsey

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SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Damages Award; Proffer; Influenza (“Flu”)

AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine; Sweet’s Syndrome.

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Respondent. *

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David A. Tierney, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for petitioner.

Sarah C. Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On March 7, 2018, Clayton T. Coleman (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation 

under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Act” or “the Program”), 42 

U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2012).

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 Petitioner alleged that he suffered from Sweet’s syndrome

and development of arthralgia as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination he received on 

February 3, 2016. Petition at Preamble (ECF No. 1). On February 16, 2021, the undersigned 

issued a ruling finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Ruling on Entitlement dated Feb. 16, 

2021 (ECF No. 54).

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

undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website in 

accordance with the E-Government 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, the undersigned 

agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such 

material from public access. 

2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National 

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 

42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012). All citations in this Decision to individual sections of the 

Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
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On May 7, 2021, respondent filed a Proffer on Award of Compensation, attached hereto 

as Appendix A. Respondent’s Proffer on Award of Compensation (“Proffer”) dated May 7, 2021 

(ECF No. 61). In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered 

award. Proffer at 1. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is 

entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. 

Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards: 

A lump sum payment of $115,674.41 in the form of a check made payable to 

petitioner, Clayton T. Coleman, an award comprised of $115,000.00, for pain and suffering, 

and $674.41 for past unreimbursable expenses.

Proffer at 2. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Id.

The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioner’s compensation. 

Accordingly, an award should be made consistent with the Proffer.

In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of 

Court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT herewith.3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Nora Beth Dorsey

 Nora Beth Dorsey

 Special Master

3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of 

notice renouncing the right to seek review.