Court Opinion

ID: 4673827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-01 20:02:05.805588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:16.283852
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 18-1874V
                                        UNPUBLISHED

    DOREEN WYFFELS,                                         Chief Special Master Corcoran

                        Petitioner,                         Filed: March 2, 2021
    v.
                                                            Special Processing Unit (SPU);
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                 Ruling on Entitlement; Table Injury;
    HUMAN SERVICES,                                         Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder
                                                            Injury Related to Vaccine
                       Respondent.                          Administration (SIRVA)

Bridget Candace McCullough, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

       On December 6, 2018, Doreen Wyffels 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 that she suffered a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received
on October 4, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.

       On January 26, 2021, I issued Findings of Fact in which I determined that
Petitioner’s shoulder pain occurred within 48 hours of vaccination. ECF No. 27 at 2. In
reaction, on February 27, 2021, Respondent filed an Amended Rule 4(c) Report indicating
that while preserving his right to appeal the January 26, 2021 Fact Finding, he “does not

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required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).
dispute that [P]etitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the
Act.” Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 5 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13).

       Specifically, Respondent stated as follows:

       Based on the Chief Special Master’s fact ruling, and medical record
       evidence submitted in this case, [the Secretary] will not continue to contest
       that petitioner suffered SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table . . . In
       addition, petitioner suffered the residual effects of [her] condition for more
       than six months. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i). Therefore, based on the
       record as it stands and subject to his right to appeal the Findings of Fact,
       respondent does not dispute that petitioner has satisfied all legal perquisites
       for compensation under the Act. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13.

Id. at 4-5.

       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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