Court Opinion

ID: 4570863
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-29 20:01:45.489084+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:47:01.799890
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

*********************
LETICIA PALENCIA, on behalf of *
C.A.P., a minor,                      *
                                      *      No. 20-180V
                   Petitioner,        *      Special Master Christian J. Moran
                                      *
v.                                    *
                                      *      Filed: September 2, 2020
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *      Decision dismissing case;
                                      *      failure to prosecute; statute of
                   Respondent.        *      limitations.
*********************
Christopher L. Phillippe, Law Offices of Phillippe & Associates, Brownsville, TX,
for petitioner;
Jennifer L. Reynaud, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for
respondent.

          UNPUBLISHED DECISION DENYING COMPENSATION 1

       Leticia Palencia filed a petition on behalf of C.A.P, a minor, under the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §300a-10 through 34 (2012) on
February 20, 2020. The petition alleged that C.A.P. developed SIRVA as a result
of the Measles series 2 vaccine he received on March 12, 2012.

         I.   Procedural History

       The procedural history of this case can be found in the order to show cause,
filed July 20, 2020. In that order, Ms. Palencia was instructed to show cause as to

1
  The E-Government, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to
file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the
document posted on the website.
why this case should not be dismissed by August 24, 2020. To date, Ms. Palencia
has not responded.

       II.   Analysis

      When a petitioner (or plaintiff) fails to comply with Court orders to
prosecute her case, the Court may dismiss the case. Sapharas v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., 35 Fed. Cl. 503 (1996); Tsekouras v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., 26 Cl. Ct. 439 (1992), aff’d, 991 F.2d 810 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (table); Vaccine
Rule 21(c); see also Claude E. Atkins Enters., Inc. v. United States, 889 F.2d 1180,
1183 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (affirming dismissal of case for failure to prosecute for
counsel’s failure to submit pre-trial memorandum); Adkins v. United States, 816
F.2d 1580, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (affirming dismissal of case for failure of party to
respond to discovery requests).

      As explained in the decision issued by the undersigned in Machuca v.
Secretary of Health & Human Services, No. 20-18V, 2020 WL 4670877 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. July 17, 2020), the statute of limitations bars this action. C.A.P.
received the allegedly causal vaccine in March 2012. The statute of limitations
requires the filing of the petition within 36 months. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–16(a)(2).
Although the order to show cause permitted petitioner in this case to explain why
her case should continue, she has not offered any justification.

      Thus, this case is dismissed for failure to prosecute and because the
claim is barred by the statute of limitations. The Clerk shall enter judgment
accordingly. See Vaccine Rule 21(b).

      IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                              s/Christian J. Moran
                                              Christian J. Moran
                                              Special Master

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