United States Court of Federal Claims, 2023

Kimmick v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided November 29, 2023 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 21-0289V

CAROLYN KIMMICK, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: October 25, 2023 v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Petitioner.

Alexa Roggenkamp, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On January 7, 2021, Carolyn Kimmick (“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”). She filed an amended petition on August 9, 2023. ECF No. 25. Petitioner alleges that she suffered a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), a defined Table injury after receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on November 14, 2020. Amended Petition at 1, ¶¶ 2, 12. Petitioner further alleges that she received the flu vaccine in the United States, that she continues to suffer the residual effects of her SIRVA injury more than six months, and that neither she nor any other party has filed a civil case or received compensation for her SIRVA injury. Id. at ¶¶ 1, 11, 13. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On October 25, 2023, Respondent filed a combined Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case.

Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report and Proffer at 1. Specifically, Respondent believes “that [P]etitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 6. Respondent further believes that “based on the record as it now stands, [P]etitioner 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

1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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 (2018).

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