Court Opinion

ID: 5128654
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-23 14:02:02.90449+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:07.796814
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0995V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    SCOTT SMITH,                                            Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: October 13, 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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Althea Walker Davis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On August 10, 2020, Scott Smith 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 he suffered right shoulder injuries related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccine received on October 18,
2018. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that the vaccine was administered in the
United States, his injuries continued for more than six months, and neither he nor any
other party has received compensation in the form of a civil award or settlement for his
vaccine-related injuries. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 14-15. 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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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.
2
 National 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 October 12, 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 history of pain, inflammation, or
dysfunction in his right shoulder; his pain and reduced range of motion occurred within 48
hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; his symptoms were limited to the
shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality
was identified to explain his symptoms. Id. at 5. Respondent thus agrees that that
Petitioner has satisfied the criteria in the Vaccine Injury Table and Qualifications and Aids
to Interpretation. 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

                                             2