Court Opinion

ID: 6325102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-21 13:02:06.221583+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:19.294558
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1491V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

 FRANCINE RUSSO,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: February 15, 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)

Joseph Alexander Vuckovich, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.

Jeremy Fugate, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On October 28, 2020, Francine Russo 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”) after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 30,
2018. Petition at ¶¶1, 8, 9. Petitioner further alleges her vaccine injury has persisted for
more than six months. Petition at ¶¶ 11. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On February 14, 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1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
1. Specifically, Respondent states that “Petitioner had no recent history of pain,
inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; the onset of pain occurred within 48
hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; the 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 left shoulder symptoms.” Id.
at 4. Respondent further agrees that “Petitioner met the statutory requirements by
suffering the condition for more than six months.” 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

                                            2