Court Opinion

ID: 4786311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-19 12:02:41.522401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:41.212546
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0339V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    KACI RICHARDSON,                                        Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: July 19, 2021
    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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On March 25, 2020, Kaci Richardson 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 “left shoulder injury resulting from
the adverse effects of an influenza vaccination” she received on October 22, 2018.
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

       On July 12, 2021, 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’s alleged injury is consistent with a SIRVA
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Id. at 7. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa
(2012).
had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her right shoulder; her pain was
limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or
abnormality has been identified to explain Petitioner’s shoulder pain. Id. Additionally, the
medical records demonstrate that Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition
for more than six months. Id. at 8.

       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

                                             2