United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Williamson v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided February 29, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 21-1094V

DANKIRIA WILLIAMSON, as Chief Special Master Corcoran Representative of ESTATE OF SHAWNTEL DENMARK,

Filed: January 29, 2024 Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

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

Neil Bhargava, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

On March 22, 2021, Shawntel Denmark filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Ms. Denmark passed away on January 27, 2022, and on March 16, 2023, Ms. Dankiria Williamson (“Petitioner”) was substituted as the proper petitioner in this case, as the personal representative of the estate of Ms. Denmark. ECF Nos. 19, 22.

Petitioner filed an amended petition on May 15, 2023. Am. Pet., ECF No. 24. Petitioner alleges that Ms. Denmark suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on December 18, 2020. Id. at 1. Petitioner further alleges that Ms. Denmark suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months. Id. at 3-4. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On January 26, 2024, 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. 33. Specifically, Respondent indicated that “Ms. Denmark’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that “Ms. Denmark 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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