In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 16-809V 

 Filed: July 11, 2017 

UNPUBLISHED 

LUISA GOMES, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Tetanus Diphtheria acellular 

Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder 

Injury Related to Vaccine 

Administration (SIRVA) 

 

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. 

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master: 

 On July 7, 2016, 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 she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine 

administration (“SIRVA”) following a Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (“Tdap”) 

vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the 

Office of Special Masters. 

On December 15, 2016, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner 

entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On July 10, 2017, respondent filed a proffer on 

award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $75,276.18. 

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

 

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the 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

proffered 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 $75,276.18 in the form of a check payable to 

petitioner, Luisa Gomes. 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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

LUISA GOMES,

Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 

SERVICES,

Respondent.

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No. 16-809V

Chief Special Master Dorsey

ECF

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I. Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items

On December 15, 2016, Chief Special Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement 

finding that petitioner was entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to 

Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”). Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that 

petitioner should be awarded $75,276.18. 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 $75,276.18, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.1

 Petitioner 

agrees.

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

 

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.
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

HEATHER L. PEARLMAN

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

s/ Traci R. Patton 

TRACI R. PATTON

Senior Trial Attorney

Torts Branch, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 146

Benjamin Franklin Station

Washington, D.C. 20044-0146

Telephone: (202) 353-1589

Dated: July 10, 2017