Court Opinion

ID: 4647325
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-29 14:01:21.419262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:05.070638
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 18-1276V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    LATORIA MARTIN,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: November 20, 2020
    v.
                                                            Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                         Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
                                                            Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                       Respondent.                          Administration (SIRVA)

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.

Christine Mary Becer, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On August 22, 2018, Latoria Martin 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) as a result of receiving the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
September 18, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On November 2, 2020, 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 notes that Petitioner “had no history of pain, inflammation or

1
  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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). 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, I agree that
the identified material fits within this definition, I 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).
dysfunction of the affected shoulder prior to intramuscular vaccine administration that
would explain the alleged signs, symptoms, examination findings, and/or diagnostic
studies occurring after vaccine injection; she suffered the onset of pain within forty-eight
hours of vaccine administration; her pain and reduced range of motion were limited to the
shoulder in which the intramuscular vaccine was administered; and there is no other
condition or abnormality present that would explain [P]etitioner’s symptoms.” Id. at 3.
Respondent further agrees that the case was timely filed, that the vaccine was received
in the United States, and that Petitioner satisfies the statutory severity requirement
because she suffered the residual effects or complications of her injury for more than six
months after vaccine administration. Id. at 3-4.

       In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                   s/Brian H. Corcoran
                                   Brian H. Corcoran
                                   Chief Special Master

                                             2