Court Opinion

ID: 4323499
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-23 16:01:55.041899+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:39.250228
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                                                   No. 17-484V
                                                              Filed: August 13, 2018
                                                                  UNPUBLISHED

                                                                         
    BRUCE JOHNSON,                                                       
                                                                             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.

                                                                         
Bruce William Slane, Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for
petitioner.
Amy Paula Kokot, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
 
                                                               RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On April 5, 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 that his receipt of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November
17, 2014, caused him to suffer a left-sided shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
       On August 10, 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’s claim meets the Table
                                                            
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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). 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).
criteria for a SIRVA, and that petitioner is entitled to a presumption of vaccine causation.
Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that petitioner suffered the onset of pain within 48
hours, that his pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the shoulder in which
the intramuscular vaccine was administered, and that there is no other condition or
abnormality present that would explain his symptoms. Respondent also stated that
petitioner’s SIRVA and its sequela persisted for more than six months. 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