Court Opinion

ID: 6321711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-09 22:01:29.670411+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:25.741136
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1339V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    PATRICIA HERTZOG,                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: February 3, 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)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On October 7, 2020, Patricia Hertzog 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 24,
2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges the vaccine was received in the United
States, her condition persisted for more than six months, and neither Petitioner, nor any
other party, has ever filed an action or received compensation in the form of an award or
settlement for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 10-12. 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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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 February 1, 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 had no history of pain, inflammation,
or dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an
intramuscular vaccination; her pain and reduced range of motion 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 4. Respondent further agrees that “given
the medical records outlined [in the Rule 4(c) Report], the statutory six month sequela
requirement has been satisfied. Therefore, based on the current record, petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4-5 (citation
omitted).

       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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