Court Opinion

ID: 5121644
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-28 13:02:21.54338+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:23.598996
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0453V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    DENISSA HARTE,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: September 24, 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)

Leigh Finfer, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

James Vincent Lopez, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On April 17, 2020, Denissa Harte 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 (“flu”) vaccine administered to her on
September 14, 2018. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On September 24, 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, it is Respondent’s position that Petitioner had no recent history
of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder that would explain the alleged

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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
signs, symptoms, examination findings, and/or diagnostic studies occurring after
vaccination; that the onset of pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an
intramuscular vaccination; that Petitioner’s pain was limited to the shoulder in which the
vaccine was administered; and that no other condition or abnormality has been identified
to explain Petitioner’s left shoulder pain. Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that
Petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months. Id.

       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