Court Opinion

ID: 4438827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-17 20:03:00.886114+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:53.174690
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-446V
                                       Filed: April 19, 2019
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    VIRGINIA WILT,

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

                         Respondent.

Amy A. Senerth, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On March 26, 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 she suffered from a right shoulder injury as a
result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 20, 2016. Petition at 1.
The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On April 15, 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
at 1. Specifically, respondent states that the Division of Injury Compensation Programs,
Department of Health and Human Services “has reviewed the facts of this case and

1
 The 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.
concluded that petitioner’s right shoulder subdeltoid bursitis and associated pain was
more likely than not caused by the September 20, 2016, flu vaccination.” Id. at 5.
Respondent further agrees that “the records show that the case was timely filed, that
the vaccine was received in the United States, and that petitioner satisfies the statutory
severity requirement by suffering the residual effects or complications of her injury for
more than six months after vaccine administration.” Id. (citing 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-
11(c)(1)(D)(i)).

     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

                                             2