VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00522
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00522
Petitioner: William Willingham
Filed: 2017-04-13
Decided: 2018-05-14
Vaccine: pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar 13)
Vaccination date: 2016-04-25
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 62637

AI-assisted case summary:
William Willingham filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) resulting from the pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar 13) vaccine he received on April 25, 2016. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit. On December 22, 2017, the respondent conceded that entitlement to compensation was appropriate, believing that petitioner's alleged injury was consistent with SIRVA and caused-in-fact by the vaccine. On December 26, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on February 8, 2018, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, indicating that petitioner should be awarded $62,637.26, an amount to which petitioner agreed. This amount represents compensation for all damages available under the Act. The Chief Special Master awarded petitioner a lump sum payment of $62,637.26. The decision was dated May 14, 2018.

Theory of causation field:
Off-Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00522-0
Date issued/filed: 2018-05-14
Pages: 4
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 2/8/2018) regarding 27 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (rp) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 36 Filed 05/14/18 Page 1 of 4
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-522V
Filed: February 8, 2018
UNPUBLISHED
WILLIAM WILLINGHAM,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Petitioner,
Damages Decision Based on Proffer;
v.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
(Prevnar 13); Shoulder Injury Related
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., Memphis, TN , for
petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On April 13, 2017, 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 alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from the pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar 13)
vaccine he received on April 25, 2016. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On December 26, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner
entitled to compensation for his SIRVA. On February 8, 2018, respondent filed a proffer
on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded
$62,637.26. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees
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).

Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 36 Filed 05/14/18 Page 2 of 4
with the proffered award. Id. 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 $62,637.26 in the form of a check payable to
petitioner, William Willingham. 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/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.
2

Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 36 Filed 05/14/18 Page 3 of 4
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
)
WILLIAM WILLINGHAM, )
)
Petitioner, )
) No. 17-522V
v. ) Chief Special Master Dorsey
) ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN )
SERVICES, )
)
Respondent. )
)
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
I. Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items
On December 22, 2017, respondent concededed that entitlement to compensation was
appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. Thereafter, on December 26, 2017, Chief
Special Master Dorsey issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding that petitioner was entitled to
vaccine compensation for his Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”).
Based on the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
$62,637.26. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be
entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).1 Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
The parties recommend that compensation provided to petitioner should be made through
a lump sum payment of $62,637.26, in the form of a check payable to petitioner. 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 lost earnings
and future pain and suffering.

Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 36 Filed 05/14/18 Page 4 of 4
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
GABRIELLE M. FIELDING
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
s/ Mallori B. Openchowski
MALLORI B. OPENCHOWSKI
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146
Tel.: (202) 305-0660
DATED: February 8, 2018

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DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00522-2
Date issued/filed: 2018-09-06
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 12/26/2017) regarding 21 Ruling on Entitlement ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. )(mpj) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 38 Filed 09/06/18 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-522V
Filed: December 26, 2017
UNPUBLISHED
WILLIAM WILLINGHAM,
Special Processing Unit (SPU);
Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
v. Causation-In-Fact; Pneumococcal
Conjugate Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Related to Vaccine Administration
HUMAN SERVICES, (SIRVA)
Respondent.
William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, P.C., Memphis, TN , for
petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On April 13, 2017, 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 alleged that he suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from the pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar 13)
vaccine he received on April 25, 2016. Petition at 1, ¶ 2. Petitioner further alleged that
he received the vaccine in the United States, continues to suffer the residual effects of
his injury more than six months after vaccination, and has never received compensation
1 Because this unpublished ruling 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).

Case 1:17-vv-00522-UNJ Document 38 Filed 09/06/18 Page 2 of 2
for his injury alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 14-15. The case was assigned to
the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On December 22, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he
concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule
4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent “believes that petitioner’s alleged injury is
consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and that it
was caused-in-fact by the Prevnar 13 vaccine he received on April 25, 2016.” Id. at 5.
Respondent further agrees that “based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act”. Id.
In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nora Beth Dorsey
Nora Beth Dorsey
Chief Special Master