Court Opinion

ID: 2781673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-24 21:03:01.328059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:20.790232
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 14-867V
                                     Filed: January 22, 2015
                                       Not for Publication

*************************
CARMEL MCDOWELL                                    *
                                                   *
                                                   *
                         Petitioner,               *        Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                                   *        Influenza Vaccine (“flu”);
v.                                                 *        Shoulder Injury Related to
                                                   *        Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”);
                                                   *        Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                                *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                                *
                                                   *
             Respondent.                           *
*************************

William E. Cochran, Jr., Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, Memphis, TN, for
petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Vowell, Chief Special Master:

        On September 18, 2014, Carmel McDowell 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”]. The petition alleges that as a result of a
seasonal influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 1, 2013, petitioner suffered 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.

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, it will be
posted 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 (2006).
        On January 21, 2015, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report [“Respondent’s
Report”], in which she concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case.
Respondent’s Report at 4. Specifically, respondent submits that “petitioner’s alleged
injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”).”
Id. Additionally, respondent indicated that “petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites
for compensation under the Act.” Id.

       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