Court Opinion

ID: 6112242
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-25 14:02:16.994817+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:22.807657
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-1302V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    ANGELA WHITE,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: December 22, 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)

Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY, for Petitioner.

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

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On October 1, 2020, Angela White 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 (“flu”) vaccination she received on
October 1, 2019. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

      On December 16, 2021, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he
concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case because her claim meets
the Table criteria for SIRVA. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1, 5. Specifically, Petitioner
had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of the affected shoulder prior to

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  Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
intramuscular vaccine administration that would explain the alleged signs, symptoms,
examination findings, and/or diagnostic studies occurring after vaccination; Petitioner
suffered the onset of pain within 48 hours of vaccination; Petitioner’s 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 5. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner satisfies the
statutory severity requirement by suffering the residual effects or complications of her
injury for more than six months after vaccination. 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

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