Court Opinion

ID: 4034366
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-16 12:02:31.019625+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:41:46.567460
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 16-0406V
                                      Filed: July 8, 2016
                                          Unpublished

****************************
JENNIFER WOLF-LECY,                    *
                                       *
                    Petitioner,        *       Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                       *       Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
v.                                     *       Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
                                       *       (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *       (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                    Respondent.        *
                                       *
****************************
John R. Howie, Jr., Howie Law, P.C., Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Amy P. Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On March 30, 2016, Jennifer Wolf-Lecy (“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 her receipt
of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 18, 2013, caused her to suffer a left
shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters.

       On July 8, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Rule 4(c) Rep. at 1. Specifically,
respondent stated, based on her evaluation of the evidence, that petitioner’s injury is
consistent with SIRVA, and that the injury was caused-in-fact by her flu vaccination on

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
September 18, 2013. Id. at 4. Respondent further stated that she did not identify any
other causes for petitioner’s SIRVA, and that petitioner’s medical records demonstrated
her injury and its sequela persisted for more than six months after administration of the
vaccine. Id. Petitioner has therefore satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation
under the Act. Id.

     In view of respondent’s concession 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

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