Court Opinion

ID: 6342262
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-19 17:01:51.231754+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:18.554639
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1673V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    NINA WATKINS,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: April 4, 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)

Paul R. Brazil, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Jennifer A. Shah, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On November 24, 2020, Nina Watkins 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 a right shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (SIRVA) following an influenza (“flu”) vaccination received on
February 3, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

       On April 4, 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, it is Respondent’s position that Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in
the Table and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation for a right SRVA, which requires

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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
onset of pain within 48 hours of vaccination and no history of pain, inflammation, or
dysfunction of the affected shoulder prior to vaccine; pain and reduced range of motion
limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered and no other condition or
abnormality that could explain Petitioner’s symptoms. Id. at 4-5. Respondent further
agrees that Petitioner experienced the residual effects of her injury for more than six
months after vaccination. Id.

       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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