United States Court of Federal Claims, 2021

Beltz v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided May 11, 2021 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1779V UNPUBLISHED

KATHERINE BELTZ, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: April 8, 2021 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) John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for Petitioner.

Amanda Pasciuto, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On November 11, 2019, Katherine Beltz 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 received a tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on December 21, 2016, and that she subsequently suffered a left shoulder injury related to the vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), a Table injury. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On April 5, 2021, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report and Proffer (“Rule 4/Proffer”) in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Rule 4/Proffer at 1. Specifically, Respondent states that Petitioner “suffered a SIRVA of the left shoulder as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner had no recent history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder; the onset of pain occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; the pain was limited to the shoulder where the vaccine was administered; and, no other condition or abnormality, such as brachial neuritis, has been identified to explain petitioner’s left shoulder symptoms.” Id. at 6. Respondent further agrees that no other causes were identified that could cause Petitioner’s SIRVA and that she has met the statutory requirements by suffering the condition for more than six months. 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

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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).

Case-law data current through September 30, 2026. Source: CourtListener bulk data.