Court Opinion

ID: 4529770
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-29 16:02:05.451734+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:21.033676
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-0075V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    GALIA GREENBERG,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: March 27, 2020
    v.
                                                              Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
                                                              Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                        Respondent.                           Administration (SIRVA)

Jessica Olins, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.

Lisa Ann Watts, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On January 15, 2019, Galia Greenberg 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 left Shoulder Injury Related to
Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October
25, 2016. Petition at 2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

       On March 26, 2020, 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 “conclude[es] that Petitioner suffered a SIRVA of the left

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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 ruling 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
shoulder as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Respondent further agrees that
Petitioner had no recent history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder;
the onset of pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination;
the pain was limited to the shoulder where the vaccine was administered; and no other
condition or abnormality has been identified to explain Petitioner’s left shoulder
symptoms. In addition, Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more
than six months. Id. at 4-5.

       In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                   Brian H. Corcoran
                                   Chief Special Master

                                             2