In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 16-1166V 

 Filed: November 15, 2017 

UNPUBLISHED 

SUSAN PETERSON, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA) 

 

Shealene Priscilla Wasserman, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. 

Jennifer Leigh Reynaud, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 On September 20, 2016, Susan Peterson (“petitioner”) 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 as a result of an 

influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on October 27, 2015, she suffered ParsonageTurner Syndrome. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit 

of the Office of Special Masters. 

On November 14, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner 

entitled to compensation. On November 15, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on award 

of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $82,092.48. Proffer 

at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered 

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 

undersigned intends 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). 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 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

award. 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 

petitioner a lump sum payment of $82,092.48, in the form of a check payable to 

petitioner, Susan Peterson. This amount represents compensation for all damages 

that would be available under § 300aa-15(a). 

The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this 

decision.3 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 s/Nora Beth Dorsey 

 Nora Beth Dorsey 

 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

SUSAN PETERSON, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES, 

Respondent.

 No. 16-1166V

 Chief Special Master Dorsey

 ECF

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On September 20, 2016, Susan Peterson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation 

(“Petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 

to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended. Respondent conceded petitioner’s entitlement to 

compensation in his Rule 4(c) Report filed on November 13, 2017. 

Items of Compensation 

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

awarded $82,092.48, which 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

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made 

through a lump sum payment of $82,092.48 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1

 

Petitioner agrees. 

 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.
2

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

Respectfully submitted,

CHAD A. READLER

Acting Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO

Acting Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

CATHARINE E. REEVES

Deputy Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

ALEXIS B. BABCOCK

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

 s/Jennifer L. Reynaud 

JENNIFER L. REYNAUD

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) 305-1586

Date: November 15, 2017