Court Opinion

ID: 4702842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-12 16:04:34.586151+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:26.558362
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-1909V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    MAGGIE VOLLENWEIDER,                                    Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: June 10, 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)

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

Sarah Black Rifkin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On December 17, 2019, Maggie Vollenweider 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) vaccination on
October 16, 2017. 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.
Respondent concluded that concluded that compensation is appropriate because
Petitioner meets the criteria for a presumed SIRVA, as defined by the Vaccine Injury

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
Table. Id. at 8. Specifically, Respondent found that “[P]etitioner had no history of pain,
inflammation or dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain occurred within 48 hours of
receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; her pain and reduced range of motion were
limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or
abnormality was identified to explain her symptoms. In addition, given the medical records
outlined above, the statutory six months sequelae requirement has been satisfied.
Therefore, based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act.” Id. (Citations omitted).
Respondent further agrees that the scope of damages to be awarded are limited to
petitioner’s left-sided SIRVA and its resulting sequelae only. Id.

       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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