United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Walker v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided June 24, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-0978V

RENAE WALKER, Chief Special Master Corcoran

Petitioner, v. Filed: May 24, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

David Gregory Rogers, Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, LLC, Fayetteville, GA, for Petitioner. Rachelle Bishop, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1

On June 27, 2023, Renae Walker (“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”). Petition (ECF No. 1); see also Amended Petition filed Apr. 11, 2024 (ECF No. 18). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination which she received on September 18, 2020. Am. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On May 24, 2024, 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 states that Petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”). Id. at 5 (citing 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a), (c)(10)). Respondent further agrees that Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act. Id. (citing Section 13(a)(1)(B); Section 11(c)(1)(D)(i)).

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 (2012).

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