Court Opinion

ID: 4562310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-02 16:02:21.389064+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:48.080253
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-0630V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    NICOLE WHITE,                                           Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: July 31, 2020
    v.
                                                            Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                         Table Injury; Tetanus Diphtheria
                                                            acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine;
                       Respondent.                          Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
                                                            Administration (SIRVA)

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

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

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On April 30, 2019, Nicole 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”) caused in fact by the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis
(“tdap”) vaccine she received on October 27, 2017. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 16. Petitioner
further alleges that she received the vaccine in the United States, that she suffered the
residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that neither she nor any other
individual has filed a civil action or received compensation for her injuries, alleged as
vaccine caused. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 16-18. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

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  Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
        On July 30, 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 states that “[i]t is [his] position that “Petitioner suffered SIRVA
as defined by the Injury Table.” Id. at 5-6. Respondent further agrees that Petitioner has
satisfied all prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id. at 6.

       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