Court Opinion

ID: 4359787
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-17 17:01:39.628122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:17.942963
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 17-990V
                                    Filed: December 11, 2018
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    BARBARA STOLIKER,

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

                        Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On July 21, 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”) following receipt of her September 30, 2014 influenza (“flu”)
vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the
Office of Special Masters.

1 The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. This

means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is required 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).
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).
       Initially, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report recommending against compensation.
(ECF No. 47.) Subsequently, however, respondent moved for a fact ruling. (ECF No.
49.) The undersigned issued her findings of fact on November 9, 2018. (ECF No. 52.)
Respondent filed an amended Rule 4(c) report on December 10, 2018. (ECF No. 54.)

      In his amended Rule 4(c) report, respondent indicated that:

      Medical personnel at the Division of Injury Compensation Programs
      (“DICP”), Department of Health and Human Services, have reviewed the
      evidence filed in this case, as well as the Findings of Fact and Conclusions
      of Law issued by the Chief Special Master. Recognizing that the Chief
      Special Master’s factual finding that petitioner received a flu vaccination in
      her right shoulder on September 30, 2014, is the law of the case, and further
      finding that onset of the symptoms took place within 48 hours, respondent
      advises that he will not defend the case on other grounds during further
      proceedings before the Office of Special Masters. While preserving his right
      to appeal the Chief Special Master’s November 9, 2018 Ruling on Facts,
      respondent submits that petitioner has otherwise satisfied the criteria set
      forth in the Vaccine Injury Table and the Qualifications and Aids to
      Interpretation (“QAI”) for Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
      (“SIRVA”).

(ECF No. 54, p. 2.)

        Respondent further indicated that “based on the record as it now stands and
subject to his right to appeal the Ruling of Facts, respondent does not dispute that
petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act. 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-13.” (Id. at 6.)

     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