Harrison v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 15-0795V
Filed: November 5, 2015
Unpublished
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SHERRY HARRISON, *
*
Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
* Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury
* Related to Vaccine Administration
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * (“SPU”)
*
Respondent. *
*
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Maximillian Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for petitioner.
Justine Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1
Dorsey, Chief Special Master:
On July 27, 2015, Sherry Harrison (“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”). The petition alleges that petitioner developed a
shoulder injury as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on September 19,
2014. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of
the Office of Special Masters.
On November 5, 2015, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report in which she conceded
entitlement to compensation. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 3. Specifically,
respondent concluded that a preponderance of the evidence establishes that
petitioner’s injury is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration
(“SIRVA”) and that it was not due to factors unrelated to her September 19, 2014, flu
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Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended
at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). 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.
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).
vaccination. Id. Respondent further determined that petitioner satisfied all other legal
prerequisites for compensation under the Act. Id.
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