Court Opinion

ID: 4437423
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-11 20:02:16.627155+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:01.505423
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-1278V
                                       Filed: June 19, 2019
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    BRIAN GRIBBIN,

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

                         Respondent.

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.
Mollie Danielle Gorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On August 23, 2018, 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 he suffered the Table Injury of shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) after receiving the influenza vaccination on
October 27, 2017. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 19. Petitioner further alleges that he suffered the
residual effects of his injury for more than six months and that he has not filed a civil
action or received compensation for his injury, alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 20-
21. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.

1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is 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).

2   National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
        On June 19, 2019, 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
and Proffer at 1. Specifically, respondent indicates that “petitioner has satisfied the
criteria set forth in the revised Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to
Interpretation, which afford petitioners a presumption of causation if onset of SIRVA
occurs within forty-eight hours after receipt of a seasonal flu vaccination and there is no
apparent alternative cause.” Id. at 3-4. Respondent further indicates “based on the
case record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4.

     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