Court Opinion

ID: 4439590
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-19 12:01:30.192767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:20.417077
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                  OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-0688V
                                       Filed: June 28, 2019
                                          UNPUBLISHED

    ELIZABETH TREGILLUS,

                          Petitioner,                         Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    v.                                                        Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                                              Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine;
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                   Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                           Administration (SIRVA)

                         Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
petitioner.
Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                     RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

       On May 15, 2018, petitioner 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 she received on
October 26, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On June 28, 2019, 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

1The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned
agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from
public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, undersigned is 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).

2   National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755.
at 1. Specifically, respondent “has concluded that petitioner’s medical course is
consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table and corresponding
Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation. Specifically, petitioner had no pre-vaccination
history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her right shoulder; pain occurred within
48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduced range of
motion were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other
condition or abnormality, such as brachial neuritis, has been identified to explain
petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at 4. Respondent further agrees that petitioner suffered
the residual effects of her condition for more than six months and has satisfied all legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act. Id.

     In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                  s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Chief Special Master