Court Opinion

ID: 4688306
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-19 20:02:32.032447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:46.964372
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-1456V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    KRISTINIA BROOKS,                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: April 19, 2021
    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)

David Alexander Tierney, Rawls Law Group, Richmond, VA, for Petitioner.

Terrence Kevin Mangan, Jr., U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

      On September 23, 2019, Kristinia Brooks 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 an influenza vaccine administered on October 10,
2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office
of Special Masters.

       On April 19, 2021, 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 agrees that “petitioner’s claim meets the Table criteria for

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
SIRVA. Specifically, petitioner has no apparent history of pain, inflammation or
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 more likely than not 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 petitioner’s
symptoms.” Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees that the case was timely filed, the vaccine
was received in the United States, Petitioner satisfies the statutory severity requirement
by suffering the residual effects or complications of her injury for more than six months
after vaccine administration, and Petitioner has averred she has not filed a civil action or
received compensation in the form of an award or civil settlement for her injury. Id. at 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

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