Court Opinion

ID: 4672979
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-30 20:02:35.313273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:10.323844
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-1287V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    HALIE LANGE,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: February 22, 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)

Brittany S. Cates, Faxon Law Group, New Haven, CT, for petitioner.

Kyle Edward Pozza, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On August 19, 2019, Halie Lange 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 “resulting from
adverse effects of a routine influenza vaccination she received on January 29, 2018.”
Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of
Special Masters.

       On February 4, 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 determined that “[P]etitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth
in the Vaccine Injury Table (Table) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (QAI)

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
for a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”).” Id. at 5. Additionally,
Respondent determined that “Petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation or
dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain and reduced range of motion occurred within 48
hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; her symptoms were limited to the
shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality
was identified to explain her initial symptoms.” Id. at 5-6. Respondent further agrees that
“[t]he scope of damages to be awarded is limited to [P]etitioner’s SIRBA and its related
sequelae.” Id. at 6.

       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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