Court Opinion

ID: 4416861
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-07-16 04:01:33.630366+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:54.415050
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          Filed: June 17, 2019

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                                    UNPUBLISHED
BARBARA WELLEN,                     *
                                    *                                    No. 17-767V
                  Petitioner,       *
v.                                  *                                    Special Master Gowen
                                    *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                 *                                    Motion for Dismissal Decision;
AND HUMAN SERVICES                  *                                    Influenza (“Flu”); SIRVA
                                    *
                  Respondent.       *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Alison H. Haskins, Maglio, Christopher and Toale, PA (FL), Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Lisa A. Watts, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                  DECISION DISMISSING PETITION1

        On June 9, 2017, Barbara Wellen (“petitioner”) filed petition for compensation in the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 Petition (ECF No. 1). Petitioner alleged that
she suffered from a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of
receiving an influenza (“flu”) vaccination on October 5, 2015. Id. at ¶¶ 1-6. Petitioner filed
medical records and an expert report from Dr. Domenick Sisto. (ECF Nos. 8-9, 27, 29).
Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report on February 26, 2018 recommending that entitlement to
compensation to be denied as petitioner did not establish a Table injury3 as she had a history of
left shoulder pain, bursitis/tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and impingement syndrome. Respondent’s

1
  Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, see 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012), because this opinion contains a
reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the website of the United States Court of
Federal Claims. The court’s website is at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/aggregator/sources/7. This means the
opinion will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. Before the decision is posted on the court’s
website, each party has 14 days to file a motion requesting 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). An objecting party must provide the court with a proposed redacted version of the
opinion. Id. If neither party files a motion for redaction within 14 days, the opinion will be posted on the
court’s website without any changes. Id.
2
 The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 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. § 300aa
of the Act.
3
 A “Table” injury is an injury listed on the Vaccine Injury Table within 42 U.S.C. § 100.3 corresponding to specific
vaccinations and time-frames.
(“Resp.”) Report (ECF No. 21) at 7. Respondent filed an expert report from Dr. David Ring on
October 10, 2018. (ECF No. 31).

         This case was initially assigned to the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) on June 12, 2017.
This case was re-assigned to my docket on March 5, 2018. I held an initial status conference on
April 5, 2018. During the status conference, I observed that petitioner had a significant history
of left shoulder bursitis/tendonitis, and impingement syndrome. See Order (ECF No. 24).

        I observed that petitioner presented to Dr. Gillespy, an orthopedic surgeon, on August 18,
2015 for left shoulder pain and range of motion concerns. Pet. Ex. 5 at 16. Petitioner was
diagnosed with problems of left shoulder bursitis/tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and impingement
syndrome. Id. Fourteen days after vaccination, petitioner presented to urgent care for left
shoulder pain. Pet. Ex. 7 at 5-8. Petitioner underwent surgery for left-shoulder rotator cuff
tendon repair on May 16, 2016. Pet. Ex. 4 at 46. During the status conference, petitioner’s
counsel argued that the flu vaccine could have significantly aggravated her underlying shoulder
condition, causing a full rotator cuff tear. See Order (ECF No. 24). Counsel stated that there
was no evidence petitioner had a rotator cuff tear prior to the vaccination and that her shoulder
symptoms never required surgical intervention, as it did post-vaccination. Id. at 2. While I
agreed with counsel that the medical records do not mention any damage to her supraspinatus
tendon, I indicated that petitioner would need to differentiate her previous left shoulder pain and
other symptoms from the pain and symptoms she experienced post-vaccination. Id.

        A Rule 5 Status Conference was held on November 28, 2018. I reiterated that petitioner
presented with a follow-up for left shoulder bursitis/tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and impingement
syndrome less than two months prior to vaccination. Pet. Ex. 5 at 16. I also discussed the expert
reports filed by the parties. Petitioner filed a report from Dr. Domenick Sisto, an orthopedist.
(ECF No. 29). Respondent filed a report from Dr. David Ring, an orthopedic surgeon. (ECF
No. 31).

        Dr. Sisto opined that the vaccination injection needle caused stiffness in her shoulder and
is “secondary to a post-injection syndrome in the form of fibrosis and stiffness in the deltoid
muscle, as well as irritation to the axillary nerve.” Pet. Ex. 15 at 22. I agreed with Dr. Ring’s
statement in his report that there was no such diagnosis or evidence of a nerve injury in
petitioner’s medical records. Resp. Ex. A at 4. Dr. Ring further opined that petitioner’s rotator
cuff tendinopathy is a normal aspect of aging that was diagnosed pre-vaccination. Resp. Ex. A.
at 2-4. I discussed that petitioner had osteoarthritis and it was likely that petitioner’s injury was a
result of her long-term shoulder condition that worsened over time. See Rule 5 Scheduling Order
(ECF No. 34).

        I stated that it did not appear likely that petitioner’s shoulder issues post-vaccination were
caused by the vaccine, but were rather a result of her long-term shoulder condition that worsened
overtime. Rule 5 Order (ECF No. 34). Further, I observed that this is a minimal damage case
and that at best, there may have been some stimulation of petitioner’s underlying shoulder
condition, however, petitioner may even have difficulty distinguishing between pre- and post-
vaccination symptoms as required by Loving v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 86 Fed. Cl.
135, 144 (2009). I instructed petitioner’s counsel to transmit a modest demand to respondent and
to discuss the difficulty of the case with petitioner and relay my preliminary view of the records

                                                  2
and expert reports in her case. Id. After reviewing petitioner’s demand, respondent filed a status
report stating that he was not interested in pursuing settlement in the case. Status Report (ECF
No. 39).

         On June 13, 2019, petitioner filed the motion to dismiss her claim, stating that she has
filed all evidence related to this case, does not intend on filing further evidence, and requests a
decision denying compensation. Pet. Mot. For Voluntary Dismissal (ECF No. 45). This motion
represents a motion for voluntary dismissal pursuant to Vaccine Rule 21(a).4

         A petitioner can establish entitlement to compensation in the Vaccine Program through
one of two ways. The first way is to establish that she suffered a Table injury i.e. that she
received a vaccine listed on the Vaccine Injury Table and subsequently developed a
corresponding injury within a corresponding period of time. § 300aa-13(c)(1). The second way
is to establish that the vaccine actually caused the onset or significant aggravation of a condition
in petitioner. § 300aa-13(a)(1)(A). To prove actual causation, petitioner must present: (1) a
medical theory of causation; (2) a logical sequence of cause and effect; and (3) a medically
acceptable temporal relationship between the vaccination and the injury. Althen v. Sec’y of
Health & Human Servs., 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005).

       To prevail on entitlement, petitioner must prove a Table injury or that the vaccination
caused her SIRVA in fact. In this case, petitioner does not prove she suffered a Table injury.
Respondent notes that petitioner had a history of left shoulder pain preventing petitioner from
claiming a Table injury. Resp. Report at 7. Additionally, respondent’s counsel stated that there
was no onset of pain within 48 hours which I noted as an inconclusive, but well-taken point. See
Order (ECF No. 24).

        Under the Vaccine Act, petitioner cannot be awarded compensation solely based on
petitioner’s claims. Petitioner must support her case of the vaccination being the cause-in-fact of
her SRIVA with either medical records or the opinion of a competent physician. § 300aa-
13(a)(1).

       Petitioner’s medical history of her left shoulder does not support causation. As discussed
above, petitioner has a history of left shoulder bursitis/tendonitis and osteoarthritis and her injury
appears consistent with her long-standing conditions.

       In this case, there is insufficient evidence in the record for petitioner to meet her burden
of causation under the Vaccine Act or Althen or Loving. Petitioner’s claim therefore cannot
succeed and in accordance with her motion, must be dismissed for insufficient proof.

        Therefore, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof.

       In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court shall enter judgment in accordance herewith.5

4
  As authorized under §§ 300aa-12(d)(2) of the Vaccine Act and on the recommendation of the special masters, the
Court of Federal Claims has promulgated Vaccine Rules that govern petitions under the Act.
5
  Entry of judgment is expedited by each party’s filing notice renouncing the right to seek review. Vaccine Rule
11(a).

                                                        3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
                        s/Thomas L. Gowen
                        Thomas L. Gowen
                        Special Master

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