Court Opinion

ID: 4544762
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-29 13:01:33.810352+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:58.972913
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-0391V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    SUE DECORETZ,                                             Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: May 19, 2020
    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)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On March 14, 2019, Sue Decoretz 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
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on
October 17, 2017. 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 agrees that “petitioner had no pre-vaccination history of

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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).
pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; pain occurred within 48 hours
after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of motion were
limited to the shoulder in which 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 4. Respondent further agrees that “petitioner suffered the residual
effects of her condition for more than six months . . . [and] petitioner 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

                                            2