Court Opinion

ID: 4692814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-04 12:02:06.007298+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:51.845016
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-1923V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    MARIAH WALLACE,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: April 29, 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)

Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY, for petitioner.

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

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On December 18, 2019, Mariah Wallace 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 suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (SIRVA) resulting from adverse effects of an influenza vaccine received
on November 16, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On April 12, 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.
Respondent “concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA, as
defined on the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 4. Specifically, Respondent found that

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
“[P]etitioner 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. (footnote omitted). Respondent further agrees that the scope of damages
to be awarded is limited to petitioner’s SIRVA and its related sequelae only. Id.

       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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