Crawford v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 16-0428V Filed: June 30, 2016 Unpublished **************************** MARSHA CRAWFORD, * * Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; * Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; v. * Prevnar 13; Shoulder Injury Related * to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) AND HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * **************************** Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner. Justine E. Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On April 4, 2016, Marsha Crawford (“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” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she developed shoulder injuries as a result of a pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar 13) vaccination she received on April 16, 2015. Pet. at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters. On June 30, 2016, respondent filed her Rule 4(c) Report in which she concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Rule 4(c) Rep. at 1. Specifically, respondent stated that the evidence establishes that petitioner’s injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), and that the injury is not 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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). 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. 2National 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). due to factors unrelated to her April 16, 2015, pneumococcal conjugate vaccination. Id. at 3. Respondent further stated that petitioner has met all statutory and jurisdictional requirements, including having suffered the condition for more than six months. Id. at 3- 4. Respondent concludes that entitlement to compensation is appropriate under the terms of the Vaccine Act. Id. at 4. In view of respondent’s concession 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 2