Court Opinion

ID: 4357614
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-10 13:01:45.386028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:33.126911
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-2015V
                                   Filed: November 20, 2018
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    ELIZABETH MOZER,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    v.                                                       Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
                                                             Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Shealene Priscilla Wasserman, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Claudia Barnes Gangi, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On December 21, 2017, 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 she suffered left shoulder injuries caused in fact
by the influenza vaccination she received on October 10, 2015. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 23.
Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccination in the United States, suffered
the residual effects of her injuries for more than six months, and that neither she nor any
other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for her injuries, alleged as
vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 23-25. 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1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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. 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).
       On November 19, 2018, 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 concluded that petitioner’s left shoulder
condition meets the criteria for a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
(“SIRVA”), as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees
that “based on the records as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4-5.

     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