Court Opinion

ID: 2844008
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-03 16:02:50.12811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:36:19.608727
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 15-0448V
                                      Filed: August 13, 2015
                                           Unpublished

****************************
ELLEN GUYER,                           *
                                       *
                  Petitioner,          *     Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                       *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination;
                                       *     Shoulder Injury Related To
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *     Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *     Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                       *
                  Respondent.          *
                                       *
****************************
Ronald Homer, Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., for petitioner.
Amy Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Vowell, Chief Special Master:

         On May 4, 2015, Ellen Guyer filed a petition for compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 [the “Vaccine
Act” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that she suffers from a shoulder injury resulting
from vaccine administration [“SIRVA”] as a result of her October 11, 2013 influenza
(“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

        On August 12, 2015, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
at 1, 4. Specifically, respondent “conclude[s] that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent
with SIRVA and that it was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine she received on October
11, 2013.” Respondent further concedes that no alternative causes for petitioner’s

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to
post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act
of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501
note (2006)). 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 were identified, and that the medical records indicate that “petitioner’s SIRVA
and its sequela persisted for more than six months” after her vaccination. Id. at 4.

       In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, I find that
petitioner is entitled to compensation.

                                  s/Denise K. Vowell
                                  Denise K. Vowell
                                  Chief Special Master

                                           2