Court Opinion

ID: 4188747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-24 16:02:41.697287+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:36.496175
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-307V
                                      Filed: June 27, 2017
                                      Not for Publication

*************************************
HEIDI DOMKE,                                *
                                            *
               Petitioner,                  *
                                            *
 v.                                         *     Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
                                            *     (“Tdap”) vaccine; on-Table anaphylaxis;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *     on-Table brachial neuritis; no proof;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *      no expert report; dismissal
                                            *
               Respondent.                  *
                                            *
*************************************
Edward M. Kraus, Chicago, IL, for petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                                              DECISION 1

         On March 9, 2016, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that within 45 minutes of receiving tetanus-
diphtheria-acellular pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on March 13, 2013, she had severe headache,
shortness of breath, decreased blood pressure, and “air hunger.” Pet. at ¶ 5. She alleged on-
Table anaphylaxis and on-Table brachial neuritis. Pet. Preamble. In the alternative, petitioner
alleged an immune-mediated inflammatory condition resulting in pain, tightness and weakness in
her left arm, shoulder and chest, aggravated ongoing environmental allergies, and increased
sensitivity to environmental and chemical irritants. Id.

1
 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal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). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that
all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets
or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar
information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a
decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the
document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within
the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.
       On March 9, 2016, the case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”).

       On July 11, 2016, petitioner filed as Statement of Completion of the record.

       On October 17, 2016, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report, recommending against
compensation principally because petitioner did not have anaphylaxis or brachial neuritis.
Resp’t’s Rep. at 4, 7, 10, 11.

       On October 26, 2016, the Chief Special Master transferred this case to the undersigned.

        On November 22, 2016, the undersigned issued an Order giving petitioner until January
23, 2017 to file an expert report, noting that the medical records did not support her allegations
of anaphylaxis and brachial neuritis. Moreover, petitioner’s assertions of subsequent injuries
rested upon her having had an initial allergic reaction to Tdap vaccine without which, there was
no predicate for these injuries.

        On January 20, 2017, petitioner moved for an extension of time of 60 days to file an
expert report, which the undersigned granted.

       On March 27, 2017, petitioner made a second motion for an extension of time for another
60 days to file an expert report, which the undersigned granted.

         On May 26, 2017, petitioner made a third motion for an extension of time for 30 days to
file an expert report, which the undersigned granted.

        On June 26, 2017, petitioner filed a motion for a status conference to discuss how to
proceed in light of the fact that petitioner’s two retained expert immunologists could not write an
expert report in support of causation. The undersigned granted petitioner’s motion and held a
status conference on June 27, 2017.

        During that status conference, petitioner made an oral motion for a decision dismissing
the petition because she was unable to meet her burden of proof. The undersigned GRANTS
petitioner’s motion and DISMISSES this case for failure to prove she had a Table injury or, in
the alternative, causation in fact injuries.

                                        Medical Records

        On March 22, 2014, petitioner saw Dr. Scott Cameron who tested her for allergies to egg,
milk and Tdap, with the results being negative to all three and the rest of the aeroallergens. Med.
recs. Ex. 5, at 4.

       On June 11, 2013, petitioner underwent an EMG, the results of which were normal
except for mild carpal tunnel syndrome in her left hand, but negative for neurologic pathology
such as brachial neuritis. Med. recs. Ex. 11, at 31.

                                                 2
       On December 29, 2013, Dr. Wayne Shytbel, a neurologist, examined petitioner and found
she was normal neurologically with no evidence of neuropathy or myopathy. Med. recs. Ex. 11,
at 25.

       In February 2015, petitioner underwent another EMG, the results of which were
consistent with the EMG she underwent in June 2013, i.e., they were normal. Med. recs. Ex. 8,
at 9.

                                         DISCUSSION

       To satisfy her burden of proving causation in fact, petitioner must prove 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 HHS, 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005). In Althen, the Federal Circuit quoted its opinion
in Grant v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 956 F.2d 1144, 1148 (Fed. Cir. 1992):

               A persuasive medical theory is demonstrated by “proof of a logical
               sequence of cause of and effect showing that the vaccination was
               the reason for the injury [,]” the logical sequence being supported
               by a “reputable medical or scientific explanation[,]” i.e., “evidence
               in the form of scientific studies or expert medical testimony[.]”
418 F.3d at 1278.

       Without more, “evidence showing an absence of other causes does not meet petitioner’s
affirmative duty to show actual or legal causation.” Grant, 956 F.2d at 1149. Mere temporal
association is not sufficient to prove causation in fact. Id. at 1148.

       Petitioner must show not only that but for her Tdap vaccination, she would not have
anaphylaxis and brachial neuritis, but also that her Tdap vaccination was a substantial factor in
causing anaphylaxis and brachial neuritis. Shyface v. Sec’y of HHS, 165 F.3d 1344, 1352 (Fed.
Cir. 1999). She can hardly prove that Tdap vaccine caused her anaphylaxis (not even
mentioning the requirement that the vaccine injury last more than six months) or brachial neuritis
when she does not have either.

         The Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1), prohibits the undersigned from ruling for
petitioner based solely on her allegations unsubstantiated by medical records or medical opinion.
No medical records show that petitioner had an adverse reaction to Tdap vaccine which lasted
more than six months. Petitioner has not filed a medical expert report in support of her
allegations.

       This petition is DISMISSED.

                                                 3
                                           CONCLUSION

       The petition is DISMISSED for failure to make a prima facie case. In the absence of a
motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of Court is directed to enter
judgment herewith. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 27, 2017                                                 /s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                       Laura D. Millman
                                                                         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.
                                                    4