Court Opinion

ID: 4910047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-09 20:06:15.611208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:22.432905
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 20-0496V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    HOLLY TIGGES,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: August 5, 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)

Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.

Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

       On April 23, 2020, Holly Tigges 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
October 4, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of
the Office of Special Masters.

       On August 5, 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 the evidence shows that Petitioner had no history
of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in her left shoulder; Petitioner’s pain and reduced

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
range of motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination;
Petitioner’s symptoms were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was
administered; and no other condition or abnormality was identified to explain Petitioner’s
symptoms. Id. at 8. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner has satisfied the statutory
requirement that an injury must last for at least six months, as required by 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i). 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