Court Opinion

ID: 4193749
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-07 12:04:11.201688+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:45.331797
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        No. 14-750V
                                     Dated: July 10, 2017
                                      Not for Publication

***************************************
PANAGOULA E. BEKIARIS,                 *
                                       *
      Petitioner,                      *
                                       *                          Motion for discovery denied
   v.                                  *
                                       *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
      Respondent.                      *
***************************************

                                                ORDER 1

        On August 19, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012), alleging that human papillomavirus (“HPV” or
“Gardasil”) she received on August 25, 2011, caused her an intense skin reaction to her sweat
and to soap; hyperactivity; anxiety; allergy; and permanent disfigurement (rashes). Pet.
Preamble.

         Petitioner filed an affidavit on July 24, 2015 (without giving it an exhibit number). She
states that after her third Gardasil vaccination, she has had hypersensitivity to a variety of
irritants, including but not limited to her own sweat, chlorine, most soaps, exposure to hot water,
lotions, body creams, fragranced laundry detergents, and fabric softeners. Affid. at 1-2. She also
states that as a result of her alleged reaction, she has panic attacks, increased obsessive
1
   Because this unpublished order contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished order on the United States Court of Federal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). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that
all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the public unless they contain trade secrets
or commercial or financial information that is privileged and confidential, or medical or similar
information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. When such a
decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact such information prior to the
document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within
the banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.
tendencies, and general anxiety. Id. at 2. She states that her alleged reaction has limited her
activities, such as walking in the street when it is raining, sweating from hot weather or physical
activity, taking showers, and trying on clothes. Id.

        On July 7, 2017, petitioner moved for discovery of samples of HPV vaccine used in 2011
because, subsequent to that time, the formula for HPV had changed. Mot. at 3. In addition,
petitioner seeks chemical and clinical facts/ notes regarding the former formulation of Gardasil
and subsequent formulations; information regarding the changes; and any further information
that would assist clinical testing of petitioner. Id.

         Petitioner’s motion is DENIED.

                                             FACTS

                                     Pre-vaccination records

       On March 2, 2009, petitioner saw Dr. Patricia Stec, complaining of a runny nose, stuffy
nose, coughing, headache, dizziness for 10 days, and anxiety. Med. recs. Ex. 3, at 24.

       On July 5, 2010, petitioner saw her doctor because she noticed she was unable fully to
extend her arms past 170 degrees bilaterally in cheerleading. Id. She received her first Gardasil
vaccination. Id.

       On October 16, 2010, petitioner returned to her doctor for her second Gardasil
vaccination. Id. She said she felt dizzy after her last vaccination but recovered quickly and felt
good afterwards.

                                    Post-Vaccination Records

         On August 25, 2011, petitioner received her third Gardasil vaccination. Med. recs. Ex. 3,
at 20.

        On August 26, 2011, petitioner telephoned Dr. Frank Roemisch and said she had transient
urticaria (hives) the prior night, which was eight hours after Gardasil and when petitioner was
very stressed regarding time constraints to do her homework. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 36.
Petitioner’s urticaria was resolved with Benadryl taken the prior night and repeated that morning.
She did not have systemic symptoms. Id.

       On August 27, 2011, petitioner telephoned Dr. Roemisch and said her hives relapsed
without systemic symptoms. Id. Dr. Roemisch said to take a cool shower and use Benadryl.
She was to call on August 29, 2011 or as needed if she had any new or increased symptoms. She
was to start a trigger diary. Id.

                                                 2
        On October 8, 2011, petitioner saw Dr. Roemisch, complaining of a body rash and severe
pruritis (itching) since August 26, 2011, especially on her upper body and arms. Med. recs. Ex.
3, at 25. Benadryl helped, but made her drowsy. She had an increase in pruritis after gym class.
Id. On physical examination, petitioner had generalized urticaria with some minor excoriations.
Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 37. Dr. Roemisch prescribed Prednisone 20 mg. If petitioner’s symptoms
increased or persisted, she was to use Xyzal 2 5 mg. and see an allergist. Id.

       On October 15, 2011, petitioner telephoned Dr. Roemisch and said her pruritis decreased,
she was off Prednisone, and she did not use Xyzal. Id.

        On November 1, 2011, petitioner saw LPN Reyna Garcia, who works with Dr. Stec. Id.
at 33. Petitioner thought she might have scratched her eye. On examination, petitioner was
noted to have moderate inflammatory acne on her face for which LPN Garcia prescribed Atralin
0.05% gel. Id.

        On April 19, 2012, petitioner telephoned Dr. Roemisch, complaining of pruritus and
rashes with multiple lotions and exercise. Id. at 37. She told Dr. Roemisch that Xyzal was too
strong. Benadryl was effective but did not last six hours. Petitioner had not seen an allergist
because she had not found a Greek allergist and did not have insurance. Dr. Roemisch
prescribed Claritin 5 mg. If that did not work, she should try Singulair, and if that failed, she
consider adding a H2 blocker. He said not to use the gym for two months. Id.

        On April 17, 2013, petitioner saw Dr. Vassilios Dimitropoulos, a dermatologist, who
diagnosed her with acne vulgaris on her face, chest, and back, post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation, and xerosis (abnormally dry skin). Med. recs. Ex. 2, at 14. Petitioner had
had acne for six years. Id. (This would put onset of her acne in 2007, four years before her third
HPV vaccination.) On physical examination, petitioner had numerous erythematous papules,
rare pustules, multiple excoriations, and numerous open and closed comedones. 3 Id. at 15. She
had many erythematous inflammatory stains. Id. Dr. Dimitropoulos prescribed Minocycline 4
100mg. and Tretinoin 5 0.025% cream. Id. at 16.

2
   Xyzal is “trademark for a preparation of levocetirizine dihydrochloride.” Dorland’s Illustrated Medical
Dictionary 2088 (32nd ed. 2012) (hereinafter, “Dorland’s”). Levocetirizine dihydrochloride is “a
histamine H1-receptor antagonist used in treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria . . .
.” Dorland’s at 1032.
3
   Comedones are the plural of “comedo.” A comedo is a “noninflammatory lesion of acne vulgaris and a
few other conditions, consisting of a plug of keratin and sebum within the dilated orifice of a hair follicle;
it usually contains bacteria . . . .” Dorland’s at 390.
4
   Minocycline is “a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline group.” Dorland’s at
1168.
5
   Tretinoin is “all-trans-retinoic acid, applied topically in the treatment of acne vulgaris . . . .” Dorland’s
at 1959.
                                                       3
        On June 19, 2013, petitioner returned to Dr. Dimitropoulos. Id. at 10. Her acne was not
itching, painful, or burning. It was localized to her face. Id.

        On August 14, 2013, petitioner returned to Dr. Dimitropoulos. Id. at 1. He diagnosed her
with improving acne vulgaris and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Id. at 5. Petitioner had
an allergic reaction to Cefuroxime 6 in the form of a rash. Id. at 2.

        On February 5, 2014, petitioner returned to Dr. Dimitropoulos. Id. at 6. Her acne was
mild, localized to her face, and characterized by blackheads. It did not itch, and was not painful
or burning. Id.

        On January 7, 2015, petitioner returned to Dr. Dimitropoulos. Med. recs. Ex. 4, at 27.
She had facial acne, dermatographism 7 on her arms, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,
photodamage, and lentigos. 8 Id. Dr. Dimitropoulos discussedpetitioner seeing an immunologist
and allergist. Id.

        These are all the medical records petitioner filed. She did not file any medical records
from an immunologist or allergist. She did not file any medical records from a neurologist,
psychologist, or psychiatrist supporting her allegations that HPV vaccine caused her anxiety and
panic attacks.

        Petitioner’s attorney has used the excuse that he cannot obtain medical records from
petitioner because she has been in Greece for years. According to petitioner’s attorney during a
telephonic status conference on October 14, 2015, petitioner does not see a doctor in Greece. On
April 7, 2016, petitioner’s attorney told the undersigned during a telephonic status conference
that petitioner was seeking medical care in Greece.

       On May 17, 2016, petitioner’s attorney told the undersigned during a telephonic status
conference that petitioner saw an immunologist and allergist Dr. Ioannis Moissidis, in Greece,
who would write a report in English.

       On July 14, 2016, petitioner’s attorney told the undersigned during a telephonic status
conference that Dr. Moissidis never sent his medical records or report to petitioner’s attorney.
According to petitioner’s attorney, Dr. Moissidis wants to do advanced allergy tests on

6
   Cefuroxime is “a synthetic, broad-spectrum ß-lactase-resistant, second-generation cephalosporin
effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.” Dorland’s at 312.
7
   Dermatographism also known as dermographism is “a type of physical urticaria in which moderately
firm stroking or scratching of the skin with a dull instrument produces a wheal with a red flare on each
side.” Dorland’s at 499.
8
   Lentigo is “a small, flat, tan to dark brown or black, macular melanosis on the skin; it resembles a
freckle clinically but is histologically distinct . . . .” Dorland’s at 1022.
                                                    4
petitioner. He wants to obtain the 2011 version of HPV vaccine because there was a subsequent
version of HPV vaccine.

        On July 14, 2016, the undersigned issued an Order giving petitioner one year to file the
expert report of Dr. Ioannis Moisssides. Petitioner has yet to file this expert report one year later.

      On July 7, 2017, almost one year after the above Order, petitioner moved for discovery
from Merck for samples of 2011 HPV vaccine and various other materials.

                                           DISCUSSION

       To satisfy her burden of proving causation in fact, petitioner must prove by preponderant
evidence: “(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
of HHS, 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005). In Althen, the Federal Circuit quoted its opinion
in Grant v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 956 F.2d 1144, 1148 (Fed. Cir. 1992):

               A persuasive medical theory is demonstrated by “proof of a logical
               sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the
               reason for the injury[,]” the logical sequence being supported by
               “reputable medical or scientific explanation[,]” i.e., “evidence in
               the form of scientific studies or expert medical testimony[.]”

Althen, 418 F.3d at 1278.

       Without more, “evidence showing an absence of other causes does not meet petitioners’
affirmative duty to show actual or legal causation.” Grant, 956 F.2d at 1149. Mere temporal
association is not sufficient to prove causation in fact. Id. at 1148.

        Petitioner must show not only that but for HPV vaccination, she would not have had
urticaria, rashes, acne vulgaris, anxiety, and panic attacks, but also that the vaccine was a
substantial factor in causing her urticarial, rashes, acne vulgaris, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Shyface v. Sec’y of HHS, 165 F.3d 1344, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 1999).

        The Vaccine Act does not permit the undersigned to rule for petitioner based on her
claims alone, “unsubstantiated by medical records or by medical opinion.” 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
13(a)(1). Although petitioner’s earlier medical records support a post-HPV vaccine complaint of
urticaria and rashes, timing is not sufficient to prove causation. Moreover, she would have to
prove that urticaria and rashes related to her vaccination lasted more than six months. 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i). Her dermatology records from Dr. Dimitropoulos refer mostly to
petitioner’s having acne vulgaris, not to urticaria and rashes. In 2013, he notes the onset of her
acne vulgaris was six years earlier, or 2007 (four years before her third HPV vaccination).
                                                   5
         Petitioner has never filed an expert report in support of her allegations, despite the
passage of three years. Now, instead of filing an expert report (for which the undersigned gave
her a deadline of one year), she wants to obtain samples of 2011 HPV vaccine and data from the
vaccine manufacturer Merck. The motion for discovery is another of petitioner’s numerous
efforts to delay resolution of this case by failing to file medical records and a medical expert
report.

                           Applicable Legal Standard for Discovery

   Discovery is not a matter of right in the Vaccine Program. The Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-12(d)(3)(B), outlines a special master’s authority to direct discovery:

       (B) In conducting a proceeding on a petition a special master—

               (i)     may require such evidence as may be reasonable and necessary,
               (ii)    may require the submission of such information as may be reasonable and
                       necessary,
               (iii)   may require the testimony of any person and the production of any
                       documents as may be reasonable and necessary,
               (iv)    shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to submit relevant written
                       information—. . . and
               (v)     may conduct such hearings as may be reasonable and necessary.

       There may be no discovery in a proceeding on a petition other than the discovery
       required by the special master.

       Thus, the plain language of the statute indicates that the special master may require
discovery of evidence that is “reasonable and necessary” to the proceedings in a case.
“Reasonable and necessary” has been interpreted to mean that:

               the special master should require production if the master
               concludes that, given the overall context of the factual issues to be
               decided by the master, he or she could not make a fair and well-
               informed ruling on those factual issues without the requested
               material. Requiring the requested testimony or document
               production must also be “reasonable” under all the circumstances,
               which means that the special master must consider the burden on
               the party who would be required to testify or produce documents.
               That is, the importance of the requested material for purposes of
               the special master’s ruling must be balanced against the burden on
               the producing party.

                                                 6
In re Claims for Vaccine Injuries Resulting in Autism Spectrum Disorder or a Similar
Neurodevelopmental Disorder, 2004 WL 1660351, at *9 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. July 16, 2004
(emphasis in original) (hereinafter “Omnibus Autism Proceeding”).

        Special masters have generally refrained from granting extensive discovery. See Gomez
v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 15-160V, 2015 WL 9597899 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Dec. 15, 2015) (Special
Master Millman denied motion for discovery from Merck regarding production, testing, and
safety of Gardasil); Halverson v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 15-227V, 2015 WL 7445510 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. Oct. 29, 2015) (Special Master Roth denied motion for discovery from Sanofi Pasteur of
human and animal data, dose-response curves, and adverse events to flu vaccine); Phillips-
DeLoatch, No. 09-171V, 2015 WL 1950107 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Apr. 9, 2015) (Special Master
Millman denied motion for discovery from Merck of any reports of sudden death occurring after
Gardasil vaccination, and any papers, reports, or memoranda discussing a possible biological
mechanism for Gardasil causing or triggering sudden death); In re Claims for Vaccine Injuries
Resulting in Autism Spectrum Disorder or a Similar Neurodevelopmental Disorder, 2007 WL
1983780 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 25, 2007) (three special masters denied motion for discovery
of vaccine safety information held by the Vaccine Safety Datalink Project); Werderitsh v. Sec’y
of HHS, No. 99-319V, 2005 WL 3320041, at *4-5 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Nov. 10, 2005) (former-
Special Master Sweeney denied petitioner’s request for access to information from the Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System); Schneider v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 99-160V, 2005 WL 318697
(Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 1, 2005), aff’d, 64 Fed. Cl. 742, 746 (2005) (former-Special Master
Edwards denied discovery of the vaccine manufacturer’s information about the manufacturing
and testing of hepatitis B vaccine); Omnibus Autism Proceeding, 2004 WL 1660351 (Special
Master Hastings denied motion seeking discovery from Merck).

         It is not reasonable or necessary to obtain samples of the 2011 formulation of HPV
vaccine, if they even exist, or the other materials petitioner requested in her discovery motion.
Petitioner does not have burden of identifying and proving a specific biological mechanism.
Knudsen v. Sec’y of HHS, 35 F.3d 543, 549 (Fed. Cir. 1994). Dr. Moissidis or anyone else who
is petitioner’s expert must review petitioner’s medical records and evaluate whether HPV
vaccine can cause urticaria and rashes (lasting more than six months), acne vulgaris, panic
attacks, anxiety, and dermatographism and, if so, that it did so in this case.

       Petitioner’s motion for discovery is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

July 10, 2017                                                      /s/ Laura D. Millman
DATE                                                               Laura D. Millman
                                                                     Special Master

                                                7