United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

McHale v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided August 23, 2022 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 20-1538V UNPUBLISHED

HELENA MCHALE, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, Filed: July 22, 2022 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)

Bruce William Slane, Law Office of Bruce W. Slane, P.C., White Plains, NY, for

Petitioner.

Tyler King, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On November 6, 2020, Helena McHale 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 a shoulder injury related to vaccine injury (“SIRVA”), a defined Table injury, after receiving the influenza vaccine on October 8, 2019. Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 23. In the alternative, Petitioner alleges that her shoulder injury and/or injuries were caused-in-fact by the influenza vaccine she received. Id. at 1, ¶¶ 2, 24. Petitioner further alleges that she received the vaccine within the United States, that she suffered the residual effects of her SIRVA injury for more than six months, and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil action or received compensation for her SIRVA injury. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 26-28. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On July 22, 2022, 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. ECF No. 35. Specifically, Respondent believes “that [P]etitioner has satified the criteria set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation (“QAI”).” Id. at 5-6.

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1 Because this unpublished Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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 section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).

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