Court Opinion

ID: 4365474
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-07 13:01:45.992277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:15.027692
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-0821V
                                    Filed: December 21, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    KAREN HOPSEKER,
                                                              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.

Franklin John Caldwell, Jr., Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Robert Paul Coleman, III, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On June 19, 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 Parsonage Turner Syndrome causally related
to an adverse reaction to the influenza vaccination she received on November 5, 2014.
Petition at ¶¶ 1, 5. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccination in the
United States, suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and
that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for

1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is 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).
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).
her injury, alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 1, 6, 8-9. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On December 21, 2018, 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 SIRVA
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that
“based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the 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