Court Opinion

ID: 2653784
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-19 19:53:08.521086+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:58.332784
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        No. 12-316V
                                      January 24, 2014
                                    Not to be Published

*****************************
JESSICA L. WEPPLER,                              *
                                                 *
                            Petitioner,          *
                                                 *
       v.                                        *           human papillomavirus vaccine;
                                                 *           chronic headaches; pain; fatigue;
                                                 *           hair loss; concentration problems;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                              *           no persuasive evidence; petitioner
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                              *           moves for decision of dismissal
                                                 *
                            Respondent.          *
                                                 *
*****************************
Michael G. McLaren, Memphis, TN, for petitioner.
Jennifer L. Reynaud, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master
                                           DECISION1

       Petitioner filed a petition on May 15, 2012, under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10–34 (2012), alleging that human papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccine
caused her chronic headaches, pain, concentration problems, fatigue, hair loss, gastrointestinal

       1
          Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in
this case, the special master intends to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). 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 categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public
access.
issues, numbness in her hands and feet, fainting, postural tachycardia syndrome (“POTS”), and
sleeping difficulties.

         On January 23, 2014, petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision Dismissing the Petition,
stating: “Petitioner has been unable to secure sufficient and/or persuasive evidence to prove
entitlement to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” Pet’r’s Mot., at 1. In addition, petitioner
states: “to proceed further would be unreasonable. . . .” Id.

       The undersigned grants petitioner’s motion and dismisses her case.

                                         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 petitioner’s
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.

       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) (2012).

       Petitioner admits in her Motion for a Decision Dismissing the Petition that she has been
unable to secure sufficient and/or persuasive evidence to prove entitlement in this Program. In
other words, petitioner has failed to make a prima facie case under Althen.

        Petitioner also states in her motion for a decision dismissing the petition that to proceed
further would be unreasonable. The undersigned GRANTS her motion to dismiss. This petition
is hereby DISMISSED.

                                                 2
                                       CONCLUSION

      This case is DISMISSED. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC
Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 24, 2014                                      s/Laura D. Millman
                                                               Laura D. Millman
                                                                Special Master

       2
         Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party,
either separately or jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
                                                   3