Court Opinion

ID: 4444753
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-07 16:02:02.016408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:14.731357
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                   OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                              Filed: August 26, 2019

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
DONNA WISSBAUM,              *                                   No. 17-1531V
                             *
          Petitioner,        *                                   Special Master Sanders
                             *
 v.                          *
                             *                                   Dismissal; Insufficient Proof; Significant
SECRETARY OF HEALTH          *                                   Aggravation; Influenza (“flu”) Vaccine;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,          *                                   Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine;
                             *                                   Neuromyelitis Optica (“NMO”)
          Respondent.        *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

John F. McHugh, Law office of John McHugh, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Althea W. Davis, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                                   DISMISSAL1

        On October 16, 2017, Donna Wissbaum (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 (“Vaccine Program” or “Program”).
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that the influenza (“flu”) and pneumococcal
polysaccharide vaccines she received on October 22, 2014, significantly aggravated her pre-
existing neuromyelitis optica (“NMO”). Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. The information in the record,
however, does not show entitlement to an award under the Program.

        On August 22, 2019, Petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing her petition. ECF
No. 34. In her motion, Petitioner conceded that, because she had “terminat[ed]. . . steroid treatment
five days prior to the vaccinations” at issue, “it [would be] impossible to isolate the [alleged]
vaccine injury from the resurgence and worsening of her pre[-]existing condition caused by
termination of [the] steroid treatment.” Id. at 2. Because of this, Petitioner stated that she “does
not believe she has reasonable cause to proceed further.” Id.

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, 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).
        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 actually caused by a vaccine. See §§
13(a)(1)(A), 11(c)(1). An examination of the record before me, however, did not uncover
persuasive evidence that Petitioner suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record also does not
contain persuasive evidence that Petitioner’s alleged injuries were caused by the vaccines
identified above.

       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