Court Opinion

ID: 4251056
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-01 21:04:30.35206+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:20.073183
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-544V
                                   Filed: November 28, 2017
                                        UNPUBLISHED

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

                       Respondent.

John Caldwell, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Justine Elizabeth Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
        On April 18, 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 a right shoulder injury as a result of receiving
an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on October 7, 2015. Petition at 1. The case was assigned
to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
        On November 28, 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 “has reviewed the facts of this case and
concluded that petitioner’s claim meets the Table criteria for SIRVA. Specifically,
petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation or dysfunction of the affected shoulder

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
prior to intramuscular vaccine administration that would explain the alleged signs,
symptoms, examination findings, and/or diagnostic studies occurring after vaccine
injection; she suffered the onset of pain within forty- eight hours of vaccine
administration; her pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the shoulder in
which the intramuscular vaccine was administered; and there is no other condition or
abnormality present that would explain petitioner’s symptoms.” Id. at 4-5. Respondent
further agrees that petitioner suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six
months, that the case was timely filed, and that the vaccine was received in the United
States. Id. at 5. Respondent further notes that petitioner has averred that no civil action
or proceeding was pursued in connection with the vaccine-related injury. 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