In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 19-200V
UNPUBLISHED
DEBORAH ANN PORTER-PUGH, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: July 23, 2020
v.
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
HUMAN SERVICES, Tetanus Diphtheria acellular
Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine; Shoulder
Respondent. Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (SIRVA)
Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY, for petitioner.
Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On February 4, 2019, Deborah Ann Porter-Pugh 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 March 6, 2013. Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On April 17, 2020, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled
to compensation for her SIRVA. On July 20, 2020, Respondent filed a proffer on award
of compensation (“Proffer”). ECF No. 36. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such
material from public access.
2National 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).
Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 1-2. 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 $110,000.00 in the form of a check payable to
Petitioner; and
• A lump sum payment of $481.73, representing compensation for
satisfaction of the State of Georgia Medicaid lien, in the form of a check
payable jointly to petitioner and:
Georgia Department of Community Health
900 Circle 75 Pkwy SE, Suite 650
Atlanta, GA 30339
Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to Georgia Department of Community
Health for satisfaction of the Medicaid lien.
The amounts above represent 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.
2
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
___________________________________
)
DEBORAH ANN PORTER-PUGH, )
) No. 19-200V ECF
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) Chief Special Master Corcoran
)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND )
HUMAN SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On April 14, 2020, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that petitioner
suffered an injury that is compensable under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34, that is, a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. Accordingly, on April 17,
2020, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement.
I. Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items
A. Pain and Suffering
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
a lump sum of $110,000.00 for pain and suffering, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
Petitioner agrees.
B. Medicaid Lien
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded funds to satisfy the State of
Georgia Medicaid lien in the amount of $481.73, which represents full satisfaction of any right
of subrogation, assignment, claim, lien, or cause of action the State of Georgia may have against
any individual as a result of any Medicaid payments the State of Georgia has made to or on
behalf of petitioner from the date of her eligibility for benefits through the date of judgment in
this case as a result of her alleged vaccine-related injury suffered on or about March 6, 2013
under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
The above amounts represent 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
two lump sum payments described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision
and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1
A. A lump sum payment of $110,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner;
and
B. A lump sum payment of $481.73, representing compensation for satisfaction of the
State of Georgia Medicaid lien, in the form of a check payable jointly to petitioner
and:
Georgia Department of Community Health
900 Circle 75 Pkwy SE, Suite 650
Atlanta, GA 30339
Petitioner agrees to endorse the check to Georgia Department of Community Health for
satisfaction of the Medicaid lien.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
ETHAN P. DAVIS
Acting Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
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
CATHARINE E. REEVES
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/ Zoë Wade
ZOË WADE
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 616-4118
Fax: (202) 616-4310
Email: zoe.wade@usdoj.gov
Date: July 20, 2020
3