Kappre v. Secretary of Health and Human Services ( 2020 )


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  •          In the United States Court of Federal Claims
    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
    No. 18-1505V
    UNPUBLISHED
    JENNIFER KAPPRE,                                          Chief Special Master Corcoran
    Petitioner,                          Filed: December 3, 2019
    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)
    Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
    petitioner.
    Daniel Anthony Principato, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for
    respondent.
    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
    On September 28, 2018, Jennifer Kappre 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 left shoulder injury related to
    vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccination she
    received on October 6, 2017. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special
    Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
    1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am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.
    2National 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).
    On December 2, 2019, 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. Specifically, Respondent agrees that “petitioner’s medical course is
    consistent with SIRVA as defined on the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, petitioner
    had no recent history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder, pain
    occurred within 48 hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination, 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
    shoulder pain.” 
    Id. at 3-4.
    Respondent further agrees that petitioner suffered the
    residual effects of her condition for more than six months and has satisfied all legal
    prerequisites for compensation under the Act. 
    Id. at 4.
    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
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 18-1505

Judges: Brian H. Corcoran

Filed Date: 1/6/2020

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 1/7/2020