Court Opinion

ID: 4292424
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-09 16:01:35.862723+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:10.081850
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 17-144V
                                      Filed: June 8, 2018

* * * * * * * * * * * * *                         *
KYLE JAMES WETTERLING,                            *        UNPUBLISHED
                                                  *
                 Petitioner,                      *
                                                  *        Dismissal; Tetanus-Diphtheria-;
v.                                                *        Acellular Pertussis (“Tdap”) Vaccine;
                                                  *        Leg pain; Foot pain; Weakness;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *        Fatigue; Insufficient Proof of
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *        Causation
                                                  *
         Respondent.                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * *                         *

Zachary Hermsen, Esq., Whitfield & Eddy Law, Des Moines, IA, for petitioner.
Justine Walters, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                                                DECISION1

Roth, Special Master:

         On January 31, 2017, petitioner as a pro se litigant filed a petition for Vaccine
Compensation in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”),2 alleging
that a tetanus vaccine he received caused him to suffer from fever, loss of his toenails and skin on
his feet, and pain in his feet and legs. Petition, ECF No. 1. On April 20, 2017, Zachary Hermsen
substituted in as counsel of record. ECF No. 7. On July 28, 2017, petitioner filed an Amended

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on
the Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No.
107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the
Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. However, the parties may object to the
Decision’s inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. Specifically, under Vaccine Rule 18(b),
each party has fourteen days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that
party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or
(2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly
unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). Otherwise, the whole Decision will be available to
the public. Id.
2
 The Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-
660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 et seq. (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or
“the Act”). Hereafter, individual section references will be to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa of the Act.

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Petition, alleging that he received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine on July 24, 2014,
and thereafter developed neuropathic leg and foot pain, weakness, fatigue, and various other health
issues. ECF No. 20. The information in the record, however, does not support entitlement to an
award under the Program. On June 7, 2018, petitioner filed a Motion for Dismissal Decision
requesting that his case be dismissed. ECF No. 32.

        To receive compensation under the Program, petitioner must prove either 1) that he
suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table – corresponding
to his vaccination, or 2) that he suffered an injury that was actually caused by a vaccine. See §§
13(a)(1)(A) and 11(c)(1). An examination of the record did not uncover any evidence that
petitioner suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record does not contain persuasive evidence
indicating that petitioner’s alleged injury was vaccine-caused or in any way vaccine-related.

        Under the Act, petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely on the petitioner’s
claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by the opinion
of a competent physician. § 13(a)(1). In this case, because there are insufficient medical records
supporting petitioner’s claim, a medical opinion must be offered in support. Petitioner, however,
has offered no such opinion that supports a finding of entitlement.

        Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioner has failed to demonstrate
either that he suffered a “Table Injury” or that his injuries were “actually caused” by a vaccination.
Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment
accordingly.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                       s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                       Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                       Special Master

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