Court Opinion

ID: 2681878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-03 16:00:49.36159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:23.669695
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                     OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          Filed: June 12, 2014

*************************
FRED BROCK,                *                                       No. 12-756
                           *
               Petitioner, *                                       Special Master Gowen
     v.                    *
                           *                                       Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Guillain
SECRETARY OF HEALTH        *                                       Barré syndrome; Motion for
AND HUMAN SERVICES,        *                                       Decision on the Record; Vaccine
                           *                                       Act Entitlement; Denial Without
               Respondent. *                                       a Hearing.
                           *
*************************

Danielle Strait, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, D.C., for Petitioner.
Justine Daigneault, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for
        Respondent.

                 UNPUBLISHED DECISION DENYING COMPENSATION 1

        On November 5, 2012, Fred Brock filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. (2006) (“Vaccine Act”). In the petition, and in the
amended petition that he filed on November 12, 2012, Mr. Brock alleged that a September 14,
2010 influenza vaccine he received caused him to suffer from Guillain Barré syndrome. Petition
(“Pet.”) at 1-2; Amended Petition (“Am. Pet.”) at 1-2. The undersigned now finds that the
information in the record does not show entitlement to an award under the Act.

    1. Procedural Background

        After the petition, an amended petition, and several exhibits had been filed, an initial
status conference was held during which the parties, having agreed to attempt to resolve this case
informally, requested that it be placed on an expedited settlement track. See Order, dated
January 9, 2013, at 1. Accordingly, Chief Special Master Vowell, the special master previously
assigned to the case, suspended the Rule 4(c) deadline indefinitely and ordered the parties to file

1
  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends 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 and note (2006)). 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 undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within the requirements of that provision, such material will be deleted from public access.

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status reports every 30 days, beginning on April 9, 2013, updating the court on their settlement
discussions. See Fast Track Order, dated January 9, 2013, at 1.

        Thereafter, Petitioner continued to file medical records, ultimately filing his last medical
record exhibits on May 9, 2013. The parties also continued to submit periodic status reports in
which they documented their attempts to settle the case. After engaging in settlement
negotiations for over eight months, the parties agreed that informal resolution of the case would
not be possible. See Joint Status Report, dated September 30, 2013, at 1. Accordingly, they
requested that the case be transferred from a settlement track to a litigation track, and Petitioner
proposed to file an expert report by December 30, 2013. Id. Petitioner was ordered to do so.
Non-PDF Order, dated October 4, 2013.

         On December 20, 2013, Petitioner filed a status report in which he stated that he would
not, in fact, be filing an expert report. Petitioner stated that he now “consider[ed] the record
complete,” and he proposed that a deadline be set for submission of Respondent’s Rule 4 report.

         On December 27, 2013, Chief Special Master Vowell ordered Petitioner to file either an
expert report or a motion for ruling on the record by January 21, 2014, and ordered Respondent
to file her Rule 4(c) report by February 19, 2014. On January 21, 2014, Petitioner filed a Motion
for a Decision on the Record (“Motion”), in which he continued to allege that “[p]etitioner’s past
and continuing injuries from [Guillain Barré] are causally related to the influenza vaccination
administered on September 14, 2010.” Motion at 1. Petitioner confirmed that he has filed “all
relevant records and affidavits pertaining to this Petition and consider[ed] the evidentiary record
closed.” Motion at 2. Because he did not proffer the opinion of a medical expert, Petitioner
“elect[ed] not to pursue a formal causation hearing with expert witness testimony.” Id.

         On February 19, 2014, Respondent filed a “Rule 4(c) Report and Response to Petitioner’s
Motion for a Decision on the Record” (“Response”). In her Response, Respondent argues that
“the record fails to establish a more likely than not causal connection between Petitioner’s
September 14, 2010 flu vaccination and his axonal [Guillain Barré].” Response at 13.
Respondent further argues that Petitioner has not provided a medical or scientific report, or a
medical or scientific theory, causally connecting the vaccine and Petitioner’s injury. Id.
According to Respondent, “a preponderance of treating physician statements suggest that
Petitioner’s axonal [Guillain Barré] was secondary to an intervening diarrheal illness,
presumably C. jejuni, which has been directly associated with [Guillain Barré] in the medical
literature.” Id. at 14. Moreover, the Respondent contends, “[t]he special master is authorized to
consider such evidence of an alternative cause in determining whether Petitioner has met his
burden of proving a prima facie case.” Id.

       On March 5, 2014, this case was reassigned to the undersigned. Petitioner’s Motion is
now ripe for review.

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    2. Applicable Legal Standard

        In order to prevail under the Program, Petitioner must prove either a ATable@ injury2 or
that a vaccine listed on the Vaccine Table was the cause-in-fact of an injury. Based on the
record as a whole, Petitioner has not established that he suffered a Table injury. Therefore, he
must prove that the influenza vaccine caused-in-fact his Guillain Barré, without the benefit of a
presumption in his favor.

        The Vaccine Act provides that a special master may not make a finding awarding
compensation based on the claims of a Petitioner alone, unsubstantiated by medical records or
medical opinion. See ' 13(a)(1). To satisfy his burden of proving causation-in-fact, Petitioner
must Ashow by preponderant evidence that the vaccination brought about [his] injury by
providing: (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,
HHS, 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005); see also Hines v. Sec=y, HHS, 940 F.2d 1518, 1525
(Fed. Cir. 1991). He must show "that the vaccination was the reason for the injury. A reputable
medical or scientific explanation must support this logical sequence of cause and effect." Grant
v. Sec=y, HHS, 956 F.2d 1144, 1148 (Fed. Cir. 1992). Circumstantial evidence and medical
opinions may be sufficient to satisfy the Althen prongs. Capizzano v. Sec=y, HHS, 440 F.3d
1317, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2006). However, mere temporal association is not sufficient to prove
causation in fact. See Grant v. Sec’y, HHS, 956 F.2d 1144, 1147 (Fed. Cir. 1992).

        When a petitioner alleges an Aoff-Table@ injury, eligibility for compensation is established
when the petitioner demonstrates, by a preponderance of the evidence, that: (1) she received a
vaccine set forth on the Vaccine Injury Table; (2) she received the vaccine in the United States;
(3) she sustained or had significantly aggravated an illness, disease, disability, or condition
caused by the vaccine; and (4) the condition has persisted for more than six months. 3

    3. Factual History

        The medical records that have been filed in this case reflect the following: Petitioner
received the flu vaccination at an Arizona Wal-Mart on September 14, 2010. Pet. Ex. 10 at 1.
Thereafter, but prior to the apparent onset of his Guillain Barré, Petitioner was seen by treating
physicians three times for treatment of his persistent diarrhea. On September 21, 2010,
Petitioner presented to Dr. Jared Berkowitz with a three-day history of diarrhea and fever. Pet.
Ex. 15 at 130-32. On September 24, 2010, Petitioner presented to Dr. Michael S. Drury with a 7-
10-day history of diarrhea, mild nausea, and malaise (but no fever). Pet. Ex. 9 at 43. On

2
 A ATable@ injury is an injury listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. ' 100.3, corresponding to the
vaccine received within the time frame specified.
3
 Section 13(a)(1)(A). This section provides that petitioner must demonstrate by a preponderance of the
evidence the matters required in the petition by section 300aaB11(c)(1)....@ Section 11(c)(1) contains the
four factors listed above, along with others not relevant in this case.

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September 27, 2010, Petitioner was treated by family nurse practitioner Julie Hellige for
persistent diarrhea. Pet. Ex. 9 at 39-42.

       The onset of petitioner’s Guillain Barré appears to have occurred by October 16, 2010,
when Petitioner was seen at the emergency room of John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix,
Arizona for chief complaints of weakness, gait incoordination, and confusion. Pet. Ex. 2 at 23-
25. An initial exam revealed mild bilateral lower extremity edema with no evidence of
confusion. Id. at 9, 24-25. Within two days, Petitioner’s weakness rapidly progressed to a
“nearly complete flaccid paralysis of all extremities.” Id. A lumbar puncture was performed on
October 18, 2010, and revealed an elevated protein level in Petitioner’s cerebrospinal fluid
consistent with a diagnosis of Guillain Barré. Id. at 75.

           Because of the history of diarrhea in the preceding weeks, a gastroenterology consult
was requested upon admission to John C. Lincoln. Dr. Juan Teran, a gastrointestinal specialist,
opined that Petitioner suffered from persistent diarrhea and “[f]laccid paralysis of extremities
suggestive of [Guillain Barré], which can be associated with Campylobacter jejuni.” Pet. Ex. 2
at 19. Dr. Teran noted that C. jejuni can be contracted through contact with animal stools and
that Petitioner had recently been assisting his daughter at her dog breeding company, cleaning
the dog kennels. Id. at 17-19; Pet. Ex. 18 at 48.4 Dr. Jason Reinhart, a neurologist who
consulted with Petitioner upon his admission to the hospital, noted Petitioner’s history of “a flu
shot 1 month ago” and “diarrhea for 3 weeks.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 20-21. Dr. Reinhart ultimately
concluded that Petitioner “presumably [had] a fulminant axonal form of Guillain Barré that
occurred as sequelae to a Campylobacter jejuni GI infection.” Pet. Ex. 14 at 5.

         Similarly, Dr. Brian Porvin, a pulmonologist, observed following a consultation that
Petitioner “ha[d] a significant GI illness with diarrhea just after his influenza vaccination 6
weeks ago.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 15. According to a consulting neurologist who examined Petitioner on
October 25, 2010, Petitioner had “[Guillain Barré], suspect[ed] axonal variant [and] source as C.
jejuni, fulminant.” Pet. Ex. 3 at 202. According to Petitioner’s October 28, 2010 hospital
discharge paperwork, authored by Dr. Mark Stivers, Petitioner’s diagnosis was “Guillain-Barr[e]
syndrome again presumably secondary to his infectious diarrhea.” Pet. Ex. 2 at 9. Dr. Stivers
noted elsewhere that Petitioner suffered “[f]laccid paralysis secondary to Guillain-Barre
syndrome, status post-intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). This followed 4 weeks of diarrhea
and was presumably secondary to Campylobacter infection that was previously treated.” Pet. Ex.
2 at 5. 5 Neurologist Dr. Erik Ortega, who treated Petitioner after he had been released to an
assisted living facility, also concluded that Petitioner’s Guillain Barré “seems to have been
related to a diarrheal illness.” Pet. Ex. 4 at 4.

4
    A stool sample collected on October 18, 2010 was unremarkable. Pet. Ex. 2 at 83.
5
 Dr. Stivers also noted that “[s]tool tests were performed by the GI consultations that did not reveal any
useful infectious agent, although again, the patient had previously been treated as an outpatient.” Pet. Ex.
2 at 5.

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    4. Discussion

        Petitioner presented to the emergency department at John C. Lincoln Hospital on October
16, 2010 with difficulty with balance and walking. Pet. Ex. 2 at 23-25. This rapidly progressed
through ascending paralysis to full blown quadriplegia, without facial or significant respiratory
impairment. Id. at 9. The diagnosis of fulminant axonal Guillain Barré syndrome was made.
Id.; Pet. Ex. 14 at 5.

       Petitioner has brought a claim asserting that his Guillain Barré was caused by the flu
vaccine that he had received on September 10, 2010. Am. Pet. at 1-2. Petitioner has not
submitted an expert report to articulate a theory or mechanism as to the causal relationship
between the flu vaccine and the Petitioner’s Guillain Barré. He has submitted the case on the
medical records alone. While several treating physicians noted that Petitioner had had a flu
vaccination within approximately a month of the onset of his Guillain-Barre symptoms, none of
them articulated an opinion that the vaccination caused the Guillain-Barre.

       Four days after his flu vaccine, Petitioner began to suffer with a persistent watery
diarrhea for which he saw several physicians. His family physician treated with antibiotics and
Lomotil. Pet. Ex. 15 at 132. The diarrhea diminished but was still present when he presented to
John C. Lincoln with the prominent presentation of Guillain Barré syndrome. Because of the
diarrheal history, a gastroenterology consult was requested. Dr. Juan C. Teran, M.D. examined
him and based on the history of Petitioner’s work at his daughter’s dog breeding facility, but
without confirmatory lab work, concluded that Campylobacter jejuni was the likely cause of the
diarrhea and the subsequent Guillain Barré.

        Respondent has filed a study entitled “Guillain Barré Syndrome Associated with
Campylobacter jejuni Infection in England, 2000-2001.” Resp. Ex. A at 1. 6 This study indicated
that Campylobacter jejuni could represent as many as 13.7% of Guillain Barré hospitalizations
after a multiplier of 10.3 was applied to the actual reported data to account for unreported cases
of Campylobacter. Id. at 1-2. Actual data showed 1.3%. Id. at 2.

        All other references by treating physicians to a causal relationship to diarrhea appeared to
follow what Dr. Stivers’ discharge summary from John C. Lincoln referred to as speculation by
the gastroenterology consult. Pet. Ex. 2 at 9-11. There was no laboratory confirmation that
Petitioner had actually contracted Campylobacter jejuni, although this could possibly be
explained by the treatment with antibiotics before cultures were taken. See id. at 5, 83.

        Despite the lack of laboratory confirmation, Dr. Teran made a reasonable clinical
diagnosis based upon the history of persistent diarrhea and the occupational exposure of
Petitioner to dog feces. He noted that Guillain Barré could be associated with Campylobacter,
which could be contracted from animal waste. Ex. 2 at 17-19. Respondent’s literature
submission is supportive of this conclusion. In contrast, Petitioner has not submitted a medical
opinion to explain why the flu shot was the more likely causal agent of the unquestioned Guillain
Barré syndrome. Petitioner has the burden under Althen to articulate a theory as to how the
6
 The full cite for this article is Clarence C. Tam, et al., “Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with
Campylobacter jejuni Infection in England, 2000-2001,” CID 37, 307-10 (2003).

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disease can be caused by the vaccine and a logical explanation as to why it is more likely than
not that it was caused by the vaccine in this case. Petitioner has submitted the case for decision
on the medical records without a supportive expert opinion.

       The medical records do not articulate a theory as to how the flu vaccine can cause
Guillain-Barre or the mechanism by which it occurred in this patient. On the other hand, the
medical records on which Petitioner relies do contain a working diagnosis of diarrhea caused by
unconfirmed Campylobacter jejuni, which could have been occupationally contracted and which
Respondent’s medical literature indicates can be a causal factor in producing Guillain Barré.

        Thus, the undersigned finds that Petitioner has failed to present preponderant evidence
that his flu vaccine was a substantial factor in causing his Guillain Barré. If anything, the
presence of the intervening case of persistent diarrhea makes the alleged causal relationship less
likely. As such, Petitioner has failed to make the required showing under Althen, and his
petition must be dismissed.

   5. Conclusion

        In accordance with the foregoing, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk
shall enter judgment accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                             /s Thomas L. Gowen
                                             Thomas L. Gowen
                                             Special Master

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