Court Opinion

ID: 3183471
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-08 17:12:17.564473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:49.626680
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                    (Filed: February 16, 2016)

*************************                                  UNPUBLISHED
KIMBERLY TAIT and DAVID TAIT                *              No. 15-1414V
on behalf of their minor child, J.T.,       *
                                            *              Chief Special Master Dorsey
               Petitioners,                  *
                                            *              Dismissal; MMR Vaccine; DTaP
v.                                          *              Vaccine; IPV Vaccine; Hib Vaccine;
                                            *              Type 1 Diabetes
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                            *
               Respondent.                  *
                                            *
*************************
Andrew D. Downing, Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC, Phoenix, AZ, for petitioners.
Robert P. Coleman, III, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                              DECISION DISMISSING PETITION1

        On November 23, 2015, Kimberly and David Tait (“petitioners”) filed a petition on
behalf of their minor child, J.T., for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Act of
1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (2012) (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioners alleged that as a result
of receiving DTaP, Hib, IPV, and MMR vaccinations on January 30, 2015, J.T. developed Type
1 Diabetes. Petition at Preamble, ¶¶ 9, 11.

        On February 12, 2016, petitioners filed a motion for a decision dismissing their petition.
In the motion, petitioners state that after investigation into their claim, they “recognize they will
likely be unable to meet their burden of proof and establish that J.T. is entitled to compensation
in the Vaccine Program.” Motion for Decision at ¶ 3. Petitioners state that they understand that
a decision by the Special Master will result in a judgment against them, and that such a judgment
will end all rights of J.T.’s rights in the Vaccine Program. Id. at ¶ 5.

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  Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the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, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner 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, I will delete such material from public access.
        To receive compensation under the Program, petitioners must prove either 1) that J.T.
suffered a “Table Injury”—i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table—corresponding
to her vaccination, or 2) that J.T. suffered an injury that was actually caused by a vaccine. See
§§ 300aa-13(a)(1)(A) and 300aa-11(c)(1). An examination of the record did not uncover any
evidence that J.T. suffered a “Table Injury,” nor do petitioners allege that he suffered a “Table
Injury.” Further, the record does not contain a medical expert’s opinion or any other persuasive
evidence indicating that J.T.’s injury was caused by the vaccinations he received on January 30,
2015.

        Under the Vaccine Act, a petitioner may not be awarded compensation based solely on
the petitioner’s claims. Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by
the opinion of a competent physician. § 300aa-13(a)(1). In this case, because the medical
records are insufficient to establish entitlement to compensation, a medical opinion must be
offered in support. Petitioners, however, have not offered such an opinion.

       Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioners have failed to
demonstrate either that J.T. suffered a “Table Injury” or that his injuries were caused-in-fact by
vaccination. Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. In the absence of a motion
for review, the Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                      s/Nora B. Dorsey
                                                      Nora B. Dorsey
                                                      Chief Special Master