Court Opinion

ID: 4854177
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-24 16:05:31.423375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:11:47.768364
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED

    In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0542V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    CYNTHIA SHAW,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: July 23, 2021
    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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner.

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On May 1, 2020, Cynthia Shaw 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (SIRVA) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on
September 14, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On July 23, 2021, 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 SIRVA
as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
had no history of pain, inflammation; or dysfunction in her left shoulder; Petitioner’s pain
and reduced range of motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular
vaccination; and Petitioner’s symptoms were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine
was administered. Id. Finally, no other condition or abnormality was identified to explain
Petitioner’s symptoms. Id. at 6.

       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