Court Opinion

ID: 4701566
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-06 20:04:01.774468+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:18.731860
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0102V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    KENYA DIXON,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: June 3, 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)

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

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

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

      On January 30, 2020, Kenya Dixon 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 vaccine received on December 4,
2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

       On June 2, 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 agrees that “petitioner had no pre-vaccination history of pain,
inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; pain occurred within 48 hours after

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
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 5-6. Respondent further agrees that the medical records establish that
Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months and has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. 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

                                             2