Court Opinion

ID: 4251054
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-01 21:04:29.124104+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:22.031160
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-418V
                                   Filed: November 27, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

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

                       Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Colleen Clemons Hartley, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
      On March 24, 2017, 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 left shoulder injuries related to
administration of her October 14, 2015 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
       On November 21, 2017, 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 “believes that petitioner’s medical course is
consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as defined
on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no recent history of pain,

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder, pain occurred within 48 hours after
receipt of an intramuscular vaccination, pain was limited to the shoulder where the
vaccine was administered, and no other condition or abnormality, such as brachial
neuritis, has been identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at 3-4.
Respondent further agrees that petitioner suffered residual effects of her condition for
more than six months and that petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id.
     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