In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 18-1740V

UNPUBLISHED

JENNIFER WOOD,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: February 24, 2021

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Tetanus Diphtheria acellular 

Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Debra A. Filteau Begley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On November 8, 2018, Jennifer Wood 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 a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) 

vaccine administered on January 23, 2017. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that 

her symptoms began within 48 hours of vaccination and lasted for more than six months. 

Id. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 26, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled 

to compensation for SIRVA. On February 23, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award 

of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $50,531.00, 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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).
2

comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and $531.00 for past unreimbursed 

medical expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner 

agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. 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 $50,531.00 (comprised of $50,000.00 for pain and suffering and 

$531.00 for past unreimbursed medical 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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

************************************* 

JENNIFER WOOD, *

* 

 Petitioner, * No. 18-1740V 

 * Chief Special Master Corcoran 

v. * 

 * 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * 

HUMAN SERVICES, * 

 * 

 Respondent. * 

************************************* 

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On October 15, 2020, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report, conceding that petitioner’s 

claim meets the Table criteria for a SIRVA injury. On October 26 2020, the Court issued a 

Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation under the Vaccine Act. 

I. Items of Compensation 

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

the following, and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment 

award: 

a. a lump sum payment of $50,000.00, which represents compensation for pain and 

suffering, see 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4), and 

 

b. a lump sum payment of $531.00, which represents compensation for past 

unreimbursed medical expenses, see 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1). 

These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be 

entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1

 Petitioner agrees. 

 

1

 Should petitioner die prior to the entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the 

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

and suffering.
2 

II. Form of the Award 

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

Respondent recommends that petitioner be awarded a lump sum payment of $50,531.00, in the 

form of a check payable to petitioner. Petitioner agrees.

Respectfully submitted, 

BRIAN M. BOYNTON 

Acting Assistant Attorney General 

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO 

Acting Director 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN 

Acting Deputy Director 

Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 

 DARRYL R. WISHARD 

 Assistant Director 

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 /s/ DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY 

 DEBRA A. FILTEAU BEGLEY 

 Senior Trial Attorney 

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 U.S. Department of Justice 

 P.O. Box 146 

 Benjamin Franklin Station 

 Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

 Phone: (202) 616-4181 

Dated: February 23, 2021