Court Opinion

ID: 4273203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-08 12:04:05.009343+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:14.078685
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                                                   No. 17-0804V
                                                              Filed: February 2, 2018
                                                                  UNPUBLISHED

                                                                         
    JULIA HAYES,                                                         
                                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                                           Petitioner,                       Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    v.                                                                       Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
                                                                             Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                                         Respondent.

                                                                         
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
 
                                                               RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On June 15, 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 alleges that that her influenza (“flu”) vaccination on September 29,
2016 caused her to suffer a 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.
       On February 1, 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 indicates that
                                                            
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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
       DICP has reviewed the petition and medical records filed in this case and
       has concluded that compensation is appropriate in this case. DICP has
       concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA, as
       defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner’s pain occurred
       within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination, pain was limited
       to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered, and no other
       condition or abnormality was identified to explain her shoulder pain. 42
       C.F.R. § 100.3(a),(c)(10).
Id. at 3. (footnote omitted).
     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