Court Opinion

ID: 3205590
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-20 20:02:11.75727+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:32.801322
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 15-745V
                                      Filed: April 29, 2016
                                       Not to be Published

*************************************
CINDY M. DEL TUFO,                        *
                                          *
              Petitioner,                 *       Failure to litigate; dismissal;
                                          *       tetanus-diphtheria-acellular
 v.                                       *       pertussis (“Tdap”) vaccine; arthus-
                                          *       type hypersensitivity reaction;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                       *       cellulitis; pruritis; rash; fatigue;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                       *       vomiting; diarrhea; asthma
                                          *
              Respondent.                 *
                                          *
*************************************
Cindy M. Del Tufo, Mahwah, NJ, for petitioner (pro se).
Michael P. Milmoe, Washington, DC, for respondent.

MILLMAN, Special Master

                                               DECISION 1

         On July 16, 2015, petitioner filed a petition pro se under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
(Tdap”) vaccine administered July 2, 2012 caused her Arthus-type hypersensitivity reaction,
cellulitis, pruritis, rash, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, anaphylactic
reactions, urticarial, chronic and extensive inflammation leading to allergy and autoimmune
responses, asthma, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspnea and common variable
immune deficiency. Pet. Preamble.

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’ 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, petitioners have 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. Because this is a pro se case, the posted decision
contains the special master’s electronic signature.
       On July 16, 2015, the case was assigned to former Chief Special Master Denise Vowell.
On July 17, 2015, then-Chief Special Master Vowell transferred the case to Special Master Nora
Beth Dorsey. On August 31, 2015, petitioner contacted Special Master Dorsey’s law clerk to
request additional time to locate and retain an attorney, which Special Master Dorsey granted on
September 4, 2015, giving her until October 7, 2015 to retain an attorney who would file a
Motion to Substitute Counsel. On October 6, 2015, petitioner contacted now-Chief Special
Master Dorsey’s law clerk and asked for additional time to locate and retain an attorney, which
Chief Special Master Dorsey granted on October 7, 2015, giving petitioner until December 7,
2015 to retain an attorney who would file a Motion to Substitute Counsel. On October 29, 2015,
Chief Special Master Dorsey transferred the case to Special Master Mindy M. Roth.

       On December 18, 2015, Chief Special Master Dorsey reassigned the case to the
undersigned. On January 21, 2016, the undersigned’s judicial assistant made a notation on the
docket stating that she had not been able to contact petitioner via e-mail at cdtufo@aol.com or by
telephone at the telephone numbers petitioner provided to the Court, (201) 206-8446 and (201)
962-2657. Also on January 21, 2016, the undersigned issued an Order directing petitioner to
contact the undersigned’s law clerk by February 12, 2016 to schedule a telephonic status
conference. Failure to do so would result in an Order to Show Cause why this case should not be
dismissed. Petitioner failed to do so. On March 29, 2016, the undersigned issued an Order to
Show Cause by April 29, 2016 why the undersigned should not dismiss this petition for failure to
prosecute.

     Petitioner has failed to respond to the undersigned’s Order to Show Cause. This case is
DISMISSED for failure to prosecute under Vaccine Rule 21(b)(1).

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

418 F.3d at 1278.

       Without more, “evidence showing an absence of other causes does not meet petitioners’

                                                 2
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 her Tdap vaccination, she would not have had
the many physical complaints she lists in her petition, but also that the Tdap vaccine was a
substantial factor in causing these symptoms. 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). In the instant action, petitioner has chosen not to file any medical records or expert
medical opinion. She has chosen not to obey the undersigned’s orders to contact the
undersigned’s law clerk.

         Vaccine Rule 21(b)(1) states that the special master “may dismiss a petition . . . for
failure of the petitioner to prosecute or comply with these rules or any order of the special master
. . . .”

       The undersigned DISMISSES this case for petitioner’s failure to prosecute and failure to
obey the undersigned’s orders to contact the undersigned’s law clerk.

                                            CONCLUSION

      This petition 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: April 29, 2016                                                     s/ Laura D. Millman
                                                                           Laura D. Millman
                                                                             Special Master

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