Court Opinion

ID: 4385937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-10 20:01:43.644004+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:58.017525
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-0736V
                                     Filed: February 13, 2019
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    LAUREL OSTIGUY,

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

                        Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Darryl R. Wishard, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 24, 2018, 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 right shoulder injuries related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine administered on September
16, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is 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).
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 February 12, 2019, 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 states that the Division of Injury
Compensation Programs, Department of Health and Human Services (“DICP”) “has
concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA of the right arm and
that it meets the requirements of a Table injury claim for SIRVA stemming from the flu
vaccination on September 16, 2016.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “DICP
did not identify any other causes for petitioner’s right arm injury, and records show that
she suffered the sequela of the injury for more than six months. Based on the medical
records outlined [in the Rule 4 report], petitioner has met the statutory requirements for
entitlement to compensation.” Id. at 5-6.

     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