Court Opinion

ID: 4702340
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-09 13:03:27.103129+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:24.133340
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 19-1919V
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    COLLEEN SEXTON,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                         Petitioner,                          Filed: June 8, 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)

James M. Merrigan, Rawson, Merrivan & Litner, LLP, Boston, MA, for Petitioner.

Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

      On December 18, 2019, Colleen Sexton 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 tear of the right rotator cuff, which
was ‘caused in fact’ by her receipt” of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine that was administered
to her on October 25, 2017. Petition at 1.3 The case was assigned to the Special
Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On June 7, 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.

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
3 Petitioner subsequently stated that she “is alleging that she suffered a shoulder injury that falls within the
‘Vaccine Injury Table’ and is compensable.” ECF No. 21.
Specifically, Respondent has concluded that Petitioner’s medical course is consistent with
a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) “as defined by the Vaccine
Injury Table and Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation”. Id. at 6. Respondent further
agrees that Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six
months. 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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