Lyons v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

CORRECTED In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-571V UNPUBLISHED JULIE LYONS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: July 7, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement;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) Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 On April 17, 2019, Julie Lyons 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 her April 18, 2017 Tetanus Diphtheria acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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 6, 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 indicates that based on his review he has “concluded that petitioner suffered a Table SIRVA. No other causes for petitioner’s SIRVA were identified.” Id. at 4 citing 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1)(B) (footnote omitted). Respondent further agrees that “the statutory six month sequela requirement has been satisfied. § 300aa-11(c)(D)(I). Therefore, based on the current record, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” Id. 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