Court Opinion

ID: 3200232
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-04 12:06:04.235069+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:00.967044
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-730V
                                     Filed: January 8, 2016
                                          Unpublished

****************************
STEFENIE HILARIO,                       *
                                        *
                    Petitioner,         *     Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                        *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                        *     Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *     (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *     (“SPU”)
                                        *
                    Respondent.         *
                                        *
****************************
Alison H. Haskins, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Sarah Christina Duncan, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On July 14, 2015, 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” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury as a result
of her influenza vaccination received on October 20, 2014. Petition, ¶¶ 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On January 6, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
at 1. Specifically, respondent “believes that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with
a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) and finds the case
compensable.” Id. Respondent further agrees that petitioner’s injury “was caused in
fact by the flu vaccine she received on October 20, 2014.” Id. at 6. Respondent also

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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.
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).
indicates 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 concession and the evidence before me, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Chief Special Master

                                             2