Court Opinion

ID: 4543891
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-25 13:01:32.738494+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:19.027265
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-0584V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    CHRISTINE SARTORELLI,                                    Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                         Filed: May 18, 2020
    v.
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU); Ruling
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  on Entitlement; Concession; Table
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                          Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
                                                             Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                        Respondent.                          Administration (SIRVA)

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.

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

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On April 18, 2019, Christine Sartorelli 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 shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination administered on
January 15, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On May 18, 2020, 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 has concluded that Petitioner suffered a Table SIRVA.

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.

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).
Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees that “the statutory six month sequela requirement
has been satisfied” and “[P]etitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the Act.” 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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