Court Opinion

ID: 4226161
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-06 14:01:13.252079+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:42.616195
License: Public Domain

REISSUED FOR PUBLICATION
                                         ORIGINAL                                  DEC 5 2017
                                                                                     OSM
                                                                         U.S. COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
    Jfn tbe Wniteb             ~tates         Qtourt of jfeberal Qtlaims
                            OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS                             Fl LED
                                      No. 17-955V
                                Filed: November 8, 2017                         NOV - 8 2017
                                                                               U.S. COURT OF
************* *                                                               FEDERAL CLAIMS
                     *
KATHLEEN PEDDYCORD WILSON,
                     *                              Dismissal; Pneumococcal
         Petitioner, *                              Conjugate Vaccine;
                     *                              Congestive Heart Failure
v.                   *
                     *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH  *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,  *
                     *
         Respondent. *
************* *
Kathleen Peddycord Wilson, Pro Se, Raleigh, NC
Camille Collett, Esq., US. Dept. ofJustice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                                          DECISION1

Roth, Special Master:

       On July 17, 2017, petitioner filed a petition for Vaccine Compensation in the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ("the Program"),2 alleging that a pneumococcal conjugate
vaccination she received on December 1, 2014, caused her to develop congestive hemt failure.
The information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to an award under the Program.

1
 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I
intend 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), petitioner
have 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, I agree that the identified
material fits within the requirements of that provision, I will delete such material from public
access.
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. §
300aa of the Act.

                                                1
        A status conference was held on August 2, 2017, during which petitioner was advised to
retain an attorney with experience in the Vaccine Program. Status Report Order, ECF No. 9.
Petitioner was refened to the list of attorneys who are admitted in the Court of Federal Claims,
which had been enclosed in the Initial Order. She was advised that she did not need to retain an
attorney who lived in her state. She was further advised that the Vaccine Program may award
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, and that she should not pay an attorney an hourly or
contingency fee to represent her in this matter. The Order further noted that petitioner was
repeatedly calling respondent's counsel via telephone multiple times a day with questions about
the Vaccine Program and to discuss her case. Petitioner was asked to refrain from contacting
respondent's counsel outside of court proceedings. Petitioner was directed to advise the Court by
September 18, 2017, of her progress in retaining representation from an attorney who practices in
the Vaccine Program.

        On August 21, 2017, petitioner filed a letter stating that she has been unable to find an
attorney and requesting that her case be dismissed. ECF No. 10.

         A status conference was scheduled for October 3, 2017, at 2:00 PM. When chambers
telephoned petitioner for the status conference, she first answered the phone, but when my law
clerk identified herself, petitioner said it was a wrong number and hung up. Upon my clerk's
fmiher attempts to reach petitioner on the number that had been successful in the past, petitioner
failed to answer the phone. Thereafter, an Order was issued which advised petitioner of the
different ways to exit the Vaccine Program. Scheduling Order, ECF No. 11. Petitioner was directed
to file a Status Report by November 3, 2017, indicating whether she would like a Ruling on the
Record or a Dismissal Decision to be issued. ECF No. 11.

        Petitioner contacted chambers via telephone on October 13, 2017, regarding the dismissal
of her case and reimbursement of her filing fee. She was advised that she would receive a decision
dismissing her case after November 3, 2017. Petitioner was further advised that she could file a
request for reimbursement of the $400 filing fee after she received the dismissal decision and
judgment had entered.

         To receive compensation under the Program, petitioner must prove either 1) that she
suffered a "Table Injury" - i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table - corresponding
to his vaccination, or 2) that she suffered an injury that was actually caused by a vaccine. See §§
l 3(a)(l )(A) and 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 persuasive evidence
indicating that petitioner's alleged injury was vaccine-caused or in any way vaccine-related.

        Under the Act, petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely on the petitioner's
claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supp01ied by either medical records or by the opinion
of a competent physician. § 13(a)(l). In this case, because there are insufficient medical records
supporting petitioner's claim, a medical opinion must be offered in supp01i. Petitioner, however,
has offered no such opinion that supports a finding of entitlement.

        Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioner has failed to demonstrate
either that she suffered a "Table Injury" or that her injuries were "actually caused" by a

                                                  2
vaccination. Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter
judgment accordingly. Petitioner has until Monday, May 7, 2018, to file for reimbursement
of the filing fee.

      IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                           3