In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

No. 18-683V

Filed: December 10, 2021

UNPUBLISHED

MERRICK BRUNKER,

 Petitioner,

v.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

 Respondent.

 

Phyllis Widman, Widman Law Firm LLC, Northfield NJ, for petitioner.

Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

DECISION1

On May 14, 2018, petitioner filed a claim under the National Childhood Vaccine 

Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that he suffered myalgias, 

headaches, unsteady movements, tics, chest pain, aggression and depression, 

emotional and psychological distress, and significant aggravation of a underlying 

condition as a result of his July 15, 2016 meningococcal and human papillomavirus 

(“HPV”) vaccinations. (ECF No. 1.) On November 23, 2018, respondent filed his Rule 4 

report, recommending against compensation. (ECF No. 20.) Ultimately, petitioner filed 

a status report on November 16, 2021 indicating that he intended to leave the program 

in order to pursue a civil action for damages. (ECF No. 82.)

On December 9, 2021, petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision Dismissing his

Petition. (ECF No. 84.) Petitioner indicated that “[a]n investigation of the facts and 

science supporting his case has demonstrated to petitioner that he will be unable to 

prove that he is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program,” and that “to proceed 

1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, it will 

be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government 

Act of 2002. See 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic 

Government Services). This means the decision 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 the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, it will be 

redacted from public access.

Special Master Horner

Petitioner’s Motion for Decision 

Dismissing Petition; 

Meningococcal vaccine; Human 

Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
2

further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources of the Court, the 

respondent, and the Vaccine Program.” (Id. at 2.) Petitioner further stated that he

“understands that a decision by the Special Master dismissing his petition will result in a 

judgment against him. He has been advised that such a judgment will end all of his

rights in the Vaccine Program.” (Id. at 2.) 

To receive compensation in the Vaccine Program, petitioner must prove either 

(1) that he suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table 

– corresponding to a covered vaccine, or (2) that he suffered an injury that was actually

caused by a covered vaccine. See §§ 13(a)(1)(A) and 11(c)(1). To satisfy his burden of 

proving causation in fact, petitioner must show by preponderant evidence: “(1) a 

medical theory causally connecting the vaccination and the injury; (2) a logical 

sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for the 

injury; and (3) a showing of a proximate temporal relationship between vaccination and 

injury.” Althen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 

2005). The Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1), prohibits the undersigned from 

ruling for petitioner based solely on his allegations unsubstantiated by medical records 

or medical opinion. 

Based on my review of the entire record, and for all the reasons discussed in 

prior orders during the pendency of this action (ECF Nos. 61, 69, and 79), petitioner’s 

medical records and expert reports do not support his allegations by a preponderance 

of the evidence. Accordingly, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for a 

decision dismissing his petition and DISMISSES this petition for failure to establish a 

prima facie case of entitlement to compensation.

CONCLUSION

This case is now DISMISSED. The clerk of the court is directed to enter 

judgment in accordance with this decision.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 s/Daniel T. Horner

 Daniel T. Horner

 Special Master

2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or 

jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.