In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 19-0951V

UNPUBLISHED

CRAIG SIEFKER,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

Chief Special Master Corcoran 

Filed: August 19, 2021

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.

Lynn Christina Schlie, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

On July 1, 2019, Craig Siefker 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 he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration 

(“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (flu) vaccination on November 8, 2017. Petition at

¶¶ 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special 

Masters.

On May 14, 2021, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to 

compensation for SIRVA. On August 18, 2021, Respondent filed a proffer on award of 

compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $25,200.00, 

representing compensation in the amount of $25,000.00 for his pain and suffering and 

$200.00 for his out-of-pocket 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1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am 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 $25,200.00, representing compensation in the amounts of 

$25,000.00 for his pain and suffering and $200.00 for his actual 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

__________________________________________ 

 ) 

CRAIG SIEFKER, ) 

 ) 

 Petitioner, ) No. 19-951V 

v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran 

 ) 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH ) 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, ) 

 ) 

 Respondent. ) 

__________________________________________) 

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On May 14, 2021, respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate 

under the terms of the Vaccine Act. ECF No. 30. Thereafter, Chief Special Master Corcoran 

issued a Ruling on Entitlement, finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for 

her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). ECF No. 31. 

I. Items of Compensation

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

$25,200.00. The award is comprised of the following: $25,000.00 for pain and suffering, and 

$200.00 for out of pocket expenses. This amount represents all elements of compensation to 

which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. 

II. Form of the Award

The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through 

a lump sum payment of $25,200.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 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/ LYNN C. SCHLIE 

 Lynn C. Schlie 

 Trial Attorney 

 Torts Branch, Civil Division 

 U.S. Department of Justice 

 P.O. Box 146 

 Benjamin Franklin Station 

 Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 

 Tel: (202) 616-3667 

Fax: (202) 616-4310 

Dated: August 18, 2021