Court Opinion

ID: 2673253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-10 03:03:31.504558+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:32:00.563815
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    No. 12-750V
                             (E-Filed: March 25, 2014)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DAVID KONAR                     *                       Special Master
                                *                       Hamilton-Fieldman
                                *
         Petitioner,            *                       Petitioner’s Motion for Dismissal
                                *                       Decision Dismissing the Petition;
v.                              *                       Insufficient Proof of Causation
                                *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH             *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,             *
                                *
         Respondent.            *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                                DISMISSAL DECISION1

       On November 2, 2012, Mr. Ronald Konar timely filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”), on behalf of
his son, David Konar. 2 The caption was subsequently amended to reflect David Konar as
the proper Petitioner. Order, 3/19/2014. The petition alleges that Petitioner suffered a

1
        Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action
in this case, the undersigned intends to post this ruling 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)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to
request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or
commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, “the entire” decision
will be available to the public. Id.
2
        The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of
1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et
seq. ( hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”). Hereafter, individual section references
will be to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa of the Act.
vaccine-related injury that included mental confusion and memory impairment following
the administration of a tetanus vaccine on March 8, 2011. See Ex. 1 at 1. The
information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to an award under the
Program.

        On March 19, 2014, Petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision dismissing his
petition. Petitioner asserts in his Motion that under the current applicable law he will be
unable to demonstrate entitlement to compensation in the Program. Petitioner’s Motion at
1. Accordingly, Petitioner requests that the undersigned dismiss the above-captioned
petition. Id.

       To receive compensation under the Program, petitioners must prove either 1) that
Petitioner suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury
Table – corresponding to one of his vaccinations, or 2) that Petitioner 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 any evidence that Petitioner suffered a
“Table Injury.” Further, the record does not contain a medical expert’s opinion or any
other persuasive evidence indicating that Petitioner’s alleged injury was vaccine-caused.

       Under the Act, a petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely on the
Petitioner’s claims. 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 there
are no medical records supporting 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 petitioners have failed to
demonstrate either that Petitioner suffered a “Table Injury” or that his 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/Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
                                           Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman
                                           Special Master

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