Court Opinion

ID: 4315754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-26 20:02:19.61472+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:42.513005
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                                                   No. 17-1176V
                                                               Filed: June 26, 2018
                                                                  UNPUBLISHED

                                                                         
    JENNIFER CLAYPOOL,                                                   
                                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                           Petitioner,                       Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    v.                                                                       Causation-In-Fact; Tetanus
                                                                             Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                                  Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                                          Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)

                                         Respondent.

                                                                         
Joseph Alexander Vuckovich, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.
 
                                                               RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
        On June 22, 2018, 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 received a Tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) vaccination on June 22, 2016, and thereafter suffered from a left shoulder
injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

                                                            
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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
        On June 22, 2018, 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 has concluded that a preponderance of evidence
stablishes that petitioner’s injury was caused-in-fact by the administration of the Tdap
vaccine on June 22, 2016. Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees that petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id. at 5.
     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