Court Opinion

ID: 2642076
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-11-14 01:02:29.531529+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:28:05.400732
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        No. 11-628V
                                   Filed: October 15, 2013

*************************************             UNPUBLISHED
HOLLY HELMS, on behalf of her minor *
child, LAYLA MICHELLE HELMS,               *      Special Master Dorsey
                                           *
         Petitioner,                       *
                                           *      Petitioner’s Motion for a Decision
 v.                                        *      Dismissing the Petition; Insufficient Proof
                                           *      of Causation; Vaccine Act Entitlement;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *      Denial Without a Hearing; Table Injury;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *      DTaP; encephalopathy.
                                           *
         Respondent.                       *
                                           *
*************************************
Aaron Russell Dias, RPWB, LLC, Mt. Pleasant, SC, counsel for petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, counsel for respondent.

                                           DECISION1

        On September 29, 2011, petitioner filed a petition seeking compensation in the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”) on behalf of her daughter, Layla
Michelle Helms (“Layla”). Petitioner alleged that Layla suffered a Table encephalopathy as a
result of a diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) vaccination she received on June 16, 2009.
Petition at 1-2. On September 24, 2012, respondent filed a report pursuant to Vaccine Rule 4(c)
stating that Layla did not meet the requirements for a Table encephalopathy and thus petitioner
could not prevail without a medical opinion or theory supporting her allegation or establishing a
logical cause and effect relationship between the DTaP vaccine and Layla’s injuries.
Respondent’s Rule 4 report at 14 – 15. Upon review of the information in the record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is not entitled to an award under the Program.

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,
the undersigned intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims'
website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with
Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party has 14 days to identify and move to delete medical or other
information, that satisfies the criteria in § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B). Further, consistent with the rule
requirement, a motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted decision. If, upon review,
the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision,
such material will be deleted from public access.

                                                 1
        On October 15, 2013, petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision dismissing her petition.
Petitioner asserts in her Motion that an investigation of the facts and science supporting her case
has demonstrated that, at this time, she will be unable to demonstrate entitlement to
compensation in the Program. See Pet’r’s Motion at 1. Accordingly, petitioner requests that the
undersigned dismiss her petition. Id. Respondent has no objection to petitioner’s motion.2

        To receive compensation under the Program, a petitioner must prove either 1) that Layla
suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table – corresponding
to one of her vaccinations, or 2) that Lalyla suffered an injury that was actually caused by a
vaccine. See §§ 300aa-13(a)(1)(A) and 300aa-11(c)(1). An examination of the record did not
uncover preponderant evidence that Layla suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record does not
contain a medical expert’s opinion or any other persuasive evidence indicating that Layla’s
alleged injuries were vaccine-caused.

        Under the Act, a petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely on the
petitioner’s claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by
the opinion of a competent physician. § 300aa-13(a)(1). In this case, because the medical
records that have been filed do not support petitioner’s claim, a medical opinion must be offered
in support. Petitioner, however, has offered no such opinion.

       Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioner has failed to
demonstrate either that Layla suffered a “Table Injury” or that her injuries were “actually
caused” by a vaccination. Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall
enter judgment accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               Nora Beth Dorsey
                                               Special Master

2
    See ECF Docket entry entered on 10/15/2013 (Informal Remark from respondent’s counsel).
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