Court Opinion

ID: 4534611
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-15 12:02:14.169904+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:22.544141
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 18-1738V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MICHELLE DEPINTO,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: April 14, 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)

Andrew Donald Downing, Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ , for petitioner.

Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

      On November 8, 2018, Michelle DePinto 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 she suffered a left shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received
on December 9, 2016. Petition at 1, 4. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On April 13, 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 agrees that “petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
SIRVA, as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no history of
pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain and reduced range of
motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; her
symptoms were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no
other condition or abnormality was identified to explain her symptoms.” Id. at 4.

       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

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