Court Opinion

ID: 6348649
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-10 13:01:03.889098+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:42:46.816418
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1868V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    THERESA BUONI,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: April 26, 2022
    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)

Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Nancy Tinch, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On December 15, 2020, Theresa Buoni 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (SIRVA) as a result of receiving the influenza (flu) vaccine on October 9,
2019. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccination within the
United States, she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months,
and no lawsuits have been filed or settlements or awards accepted by anyone due to
Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Petition at 2, 15. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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.

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
        On April 8, 2022, 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.
Respondent determined that “Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the Vaccine
Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”) for a
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”).” Id. at 8. Specifically,
Respondent found that “Petitioner had no relevant 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 symptoms.” Id. at 8-9. Respondent further agrees that the
scope of damages to be awarded is limited to petitioner’s SIRVA and its related sequelae
only.” Id. at 9.

       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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