Wallace v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1923V UNPUBLISHED MARIAH WALLACE, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: April 29, 2021 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA) Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY, for petitioner. Kimberly Shubert Davey, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 On December 18, 2019, Mariah Wallace 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 suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) resulting from adverse effects of an influenza vaccine received on November 16, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On April 12, 2021, 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. Respondent “concluded that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA, as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 4. Specifically, Respondent found that 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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). “[P]etitioner had no history of pain, inflammation or dysfunction in her left shoulder; her pain and reduced range of motion occurred within 48 hours of receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; her symptoms were limited to the shoulder in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality was identified to explain her symptoms.” Id. (footnote omitted). Respondent further agrees that the scope of damages to be awarded is limited to petitioner’s SIRVA and its related sequelae only. 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