Cantrell v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No 16-1581V Filed: August 18, 2017 UNPUBLISHED DELLA CANTRELL, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. Causation-In-Fact; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Jeffrey S. Pop, Jeffrey S. Pop & Associates, Beverly Hills, CA, for petitioner. Glenn A. MacLeod, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On November 29, 2016, 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 “severe left shoulder pain” resulting from an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 3, 2015. Pet. at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On August 16, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Resp.’s R. 4(c) Rept. at 1. Specifically, respondent “concluded that petitioner’s alleged left shoulder injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, or SIRVA, and that this injury was caused-in-fact by the flu vaccine petitioner received on October 3, 2015.” 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website,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). Id. at 3. Respondent further agrees that no other causes were identified for petitioner’s left should injury, that petitioner’s SIRVA ailment persisted for more than six months, and therefore that petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Vaccine 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