Court Opinion

ID: 4280087
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-31 16:01:56.265401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:43.700925
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 17-0832V
                                     Filed: March 16, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    DEBORAH FORBES,
                                                             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.

Ann Mayhew Golski, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
       On June 20, 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 Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza vaccination she received in her left
deltoid on October 4, 2016. Petition at 1-2. Petitioner further alleges that she received
the vaccine in the United States, suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than
six months and has never received compensation for her injury, alleged as vaccine
caused. Petition at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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).
        On March 15, 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 states that the Division of Injury Compensation Programs,
Department of Health of Human Services “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 4-5. Respondent further agrees that “petitioner has
satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act”. Id. at 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