STREECH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 24-1888V
MARK STREECH,
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Filed: December 17, 2025
Catherine Wallace Costigan, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Margaret Armstrong, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On November 15, 2024, Mark Streech 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 injuries due to a syncopal episode
following a Tdap vaccination he received on August 3, 2023. Petition at ¶¶ 1, 6. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On July 25, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for his injuries. On December 16, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on
award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $133,987.70,
comprised of $130,000.00 for pain and suffering and $3,987.70 for past unreimbursable
expenses. Proffer at 1-2. In the Proffer, Respondent 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.
1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018).
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Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $133,987.70, comprised of $130,000.00 for pain and suffering and
$3,987.70 for past unreimbursable expenses, to be paid through an ACH deposit to
Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to Petitioner. This
amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section
15(a).
The Clerk of 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.
Case 1:24-vv-01888-UNJ Document 42 Filed 01/22/26 Page 2 of 5

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
MARK STREECH,
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
No. 24-1888V
Chief Special Master Corcoran
ECF
PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On November 15, 2024, Mark Streech (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
(“petition”) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to
-34, as amended (“Act”). He alleges that he suffered a syncopal episode following receipt of a
tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on August 3, 2023, which resulted in a femoral
neck (hip joint) fracture. See Petition at 6. On July 25, 2025, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (“respondent”) filed his Vaccine Rule 4(c) report, concluding that this case is
appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act for a vasovagal syncope Table injury
and the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to
compensation the same day. ECF No. 27; ECF No. 31.
I. 	Items of Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
the following:
A. 	Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $130,000.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
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B. 	Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that he incurred past unreimbursable expenses
related to his vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past
unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $3,987.70. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(1)(B).
Petitioner agrees.
These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is 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, as described below, and request that the Chief Special Master’s decision
and the Court’s judgment award the following: 1
A lump sum payment of $133,987.70, to be paid through an ACH deposit to petitioner’s
counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner, Mark Streech.
Petitioner is a competent adult. Proof of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respectfully submitted,
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Assistant Attorney General
JONATHAN D. GUYNN
Acting Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
LARA A. ENGLUND
Assistant 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 lost earnings, and future pain and suffering.
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/s/ Margaret Armstrong
MARGARET ARMSTRONG
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) 616-4043
E-mail: margaret.armstrong@usdoj.gov
DATED: December 16, 2025
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