Court Opinion

ID: 4037172
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-26 20:02:36.453814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:56.395899
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 15-1375V
                                    Filed: January 29, 2016
                                          Unpublished

****************************
DIANNE GAIL STROBEL,                    *
                                        *
                     Petitioner,        *      Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                        *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccination;
                                        *      Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                     *      Administration (“SIRVA”); Special
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                     *      Processing Unit (“SPU”)
                                        *
                                        *
                     Respondent.        *
                                        *
****************************
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On November 13, 2015, 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” or “Program”]. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her November 19, 2014
influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing
Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

       On January 28, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) report in which she
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’).” Id. at 4.
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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). 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.
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).
Respondent agrees that “petitioner met the statutory requirements by suffering the
residual effects of her condition for more than six months.” Id. Respondent further
agrees that “based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id.

     In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                  s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Chief Special Master

                                            2