Court Opinion

ID: 4243973
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-09 21:04:28.035588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:13.613913
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-292V
                                    Filed: October 27, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    CAROL BEDEWI,
                                                             Special Processing Unit (SPU);
                        Petitioner,                          Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    v.                                                       Causation-In-Fact; Influenza (Flu)
                                                             Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                  Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                       Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Justine Elizabeth Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On March 3, 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 she suffered from left shoulder injuries as a result of
receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on January 5, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On October 26, 2017, 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 states that the Division of Injury Compensation Programs,
Department of Health and Human Services “has concluded that a preponderance of the

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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.

2National 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).
evidence establishes that petitioner’s injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), and that it was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine she
received on January 5, 2016.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that “the records
show that the case was timely filed, that petitioner received a vaccine set forth in the
Vaccine Injury Table . . . the vaccine was received in the United States . . . [and]
petitioner [has] met the statutory requirements by suffering the condition 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