Court Opinion

ID: 4584292
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-06 14:01:12.742731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:16.880963
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                     Filed: September 30, 2020

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                       *
RUTH NORTEY,                                      *       No. 17-1527V
                                                  *
                Petitioner,                       *       Special Master Sanders
                                                  *
v.                                                *
                                                  *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *       Dismissal; Insufficient Proof; Influenza
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *       (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to
                                                  *       Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”).
                                                  *
          Respondent.                             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                       *
Timothy P. Clancy, Clancy & Thompson, PLLC, Tulsa, OK, for Petitioner.
Heather L. Pearlman, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

                                             DISMISSAL 1

        On October 13, 2017, Ruth Nortey (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 2 (“Vaccine Program” or “Program”). 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that she developed a shoulder injury related to
vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of the influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on
October 14, 2014. Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. The information in the record, however, does not show
entitlement to an award under the Program.

        On September 28, 2020, Petitioner filed an unopposed motion for a decision dismissing
her petition. See ECF No. 61. In her motion, Petitioner conceded that “[a]n investigation of the
facts and science supporting her case has demonstrated to [P]etitioner that she will be unable to
prove that she is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” Id. at 1. She continued, “to
proceed further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources of the Court, the

1
  This Decision shall be posted 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to
the Internet. 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 I
agree that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision, such material will be
deleted from public access.
2
  National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (“the Vaccine Act”
or “Act”). Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent
subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012).
[R]espondent, and the Vaccine Program.” Id. Respondent had no objection to Petitioner’s motion.
Id. at 2.

       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 the vaccination, or (2) that she suffered an injury that was caused by a vaccine. See §§
13(a)(1)(A), 11(c)(1). Petitioner did not allege that she suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the
record does not contain persuasive evidence that Petitioner’s alleged injury was caused by the flu
vaccine.

       Under the Act, petitioners may not be given a Program award based solely on their claims
alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by medical records or the opinion of a competent
physician. § 13(a)(1). In this case, the medical records are insufficient to prove Petitioner’s claim,
and Petitioner has not filed a supportive opinion from an expert witness. Therefore, this case must
be dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly. 3

        IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                          s/Herbrina D. Sanders
                                                          Herbrina D. Sanders
                                                          Special Master

3
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of a notice
renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                      2