Court Opinion

ID: 4261790
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-05 20:04:55.878471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:52.541342
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-1700V
                                      Filed: June 30, 2017
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    THOMAS CASEY,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    v.                                                       Causation-In-Fact; Influenza (Flu)
                                                             Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Danielle Strait, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Lynn Elizabeth Ricciardella, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
      On December 28, 2016, petitioner 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 he received an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on
November 21, 2015, and thereafter suffered a shoulder injury. Petition at 1,2. The case
was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On June 29, 2017, 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 “has determined that petitioner’s alleged injury is

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.

2National 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).
consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) Id. at 1.
Respondent further agrees that “a preponderance of evidence establishes that the injury
to petitioner’s right shoulder was caused by the administration of the November 21,
2015 flu vaccine, and that petitioner’s injury is not due to factors unrelated to the
administration of the flu vaccine”. Id. at 3. Respondent also agrees that the statutory six
month sequela requirement has been satisfied. Id. at 4.
     In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Chief Special Master