Court Opinion

ID: 4022004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-04 20:06:39.183397+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:08:12.177224
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-320V
                                      Filed: June 15, 2016
                                          Unpublished

****************************
CHRISTINE MINERS,                         *
                                          *
                   Petitioner,            *
                                          *     Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
v.                                        *     Influenza Vaccination;
                                          *     Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *     Administration (“SIRVA”);
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *     Special Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                          *
                   Respondent.            *
                                          *
****************************
Franklin John Caldwell, Jr., Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota FL, for petitioner.
Ann Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 11, 2016, Christine Miners (“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” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she
suffers from a shoulder injury to include “mild adhesive capsulitis with impingement type
symptoms” caused by the influenza vaccine she received on October 6, 2014. Petition
at ¶¶ 1, 4, 6, 8. Petitioner further alleges that she has suffered the residual effects of
her injury for more than six months and that neither she nor any other party has brought
an action for her vaccine related injuries. Id. at ¶¶ 5, 7, 10. 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1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it 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 (2012)). 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).
       On June 13, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she 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 left shoulder injury is
consistent with SIRVA, and that it was caused in fact by the flu vaccine she received on
October 6, 2014.” Id. at 4. Respondent further indicates that “petitioner has met the
statutory requirements for entitlement to compensation.” Id. (citations omitted).

       In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, I find that
petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                  s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Chief Special Master

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