Court Opinion

ID: 6215828
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-07 22:01:41.438803+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:06.036238
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1070V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    VICKI HOLLINGSWORTH,                                    Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: January 5, 2022
    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)

Nancy Routh Meyers, Turning Point Litigation, Greensboro, NC, for Petitioner.

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

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On August 25, 2020, Vicki Hollingsworth 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 left shoulder injuries related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on September 20,
2017. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges the vaccine was administered in the United
States, she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that
neither Petitioner nor any other party has filed an action or received compensation for her
vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2-7, 18-19. 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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2012).
        On January 3, 2022, 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 on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner 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. at 5-6. Respondent further
agrees that “petitioner has satisfied the statutory requirement that petitioner’s injury lasted
for at least six months . . . . [and] satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under
the Act.” 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