Court Opinion

ID: 4238639
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-23 21:04:09.364862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:43.019872
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                                                  No. 17-0063V
                                                               Filed: July 21, 2017
                                                                 UNPUBLISHED

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

                                         Respondent.

                                                                         
Amber Diane Wilson, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Douglas Ross, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
 
                                                               RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On January 13, 2017, Patricia Heckman (“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 that she suffered left
shoulder injuries as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on November
12, 2015. Petition at ¶2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.
        On July 20, 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 concludes that petitioner suffered a left-side shoulder injury and
that the preponderance of the medical evidence indicates that the injury is causally

                                                            
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.
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).
related to the flu vaccine she received on November 12, 2015. Id. at 7. Respondent
further agrees that no other causes for petitioner’s injury have been identified and that
petitioner meets the statutory requirements by suffering the condition for more than six
months. 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