Court Opinion

ID: 3204399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-18 12:03:08.532966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:33.657458
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-1299V
                                     Filed: March 23, 2016
                                         UNPUBLISHED

****************************
FELECIA BROOKS-JONES,                      *
                                           *
                     Petitioner,           *     Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                           *     Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination; Shoulder
V.                                         *     Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *     (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *     (“SPU”)
                                           *
                     Respondent.           *
                                           *
****************************
Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

      On November 2, 2015, 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 a shoulder injury as a result of her
November 13, 2014 influenza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at ¶¶ 3-4. The case was
assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

        On March 22, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she concedes
that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report
at 1. Specifically, respondent “concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent
with SIRVA [shoulder injury related to vaccine administration]; that a preponderance of
the evidence establishes that her SIRVA was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccination she
received on November 13, 2014; and that no other causes for petitioner’s SIRVA were
identified.” Id. at 2. Respondent also agrees that “the statutory six month sequela

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
requirement has been satisfied.” Id. Respondent further indicates that “based on the
current record, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the
Act.” Id.

     In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Nora Beth Dorsey
                                   Chief Special Master

                                             2