Court Opinion

ID: 4315739
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-26 20:02:08.429616+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:42.321677
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0994V
                                      Filed: June 27, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    REGINA STENBERG,
                                                             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.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
       petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
       respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On July 24, 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 left shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) caused in fact by the influenza vaccination she received on
September 15, 2016. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 1, 5. Petitioner further alleges she received the
vaccination in the United States, suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than
six months and that neither she nor any other party has received compensation for her

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
injury alleged as vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 1, 5-6. The case was assigned to the
Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
       On June 25, 2018, 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 “believes that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with
a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined on the Vaccine
Injury Table.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that “petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. at 4-5.

     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