Court Opinion

ID: 2757610
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-04 17:01:30.593313+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:05:24.115702
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 10-798V
                                     Filed: November 12, 2014
                                        Not to be Published

*************************
                             *
ALEX HIGDON and JANE HIGDON, *
parents of A.H., a minor,    *
                             *
       Petitioners,          *                            Autism; Petitioners’ Motion for a
                             *                            Decision Dismissing the Petition;
               v.            *                            Insufficient Proof of Causation; Vaccine
                             *                            Act Entitlement; Denial Without Hearing
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND      *
HUMAN SERVICES,              *
                             *
       Respondent.           *
                             *
*************************

                                              DECISION 1

       On November 17, 2010, petitioners filed a Petition for Vaccine Compensation in the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“the Program”),2 alleging that various
vaccinations injured A.H. The information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to
an award under the Program.

1
 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I intend to
post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-
Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44
U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify
and move to delete medical or other information, that satisfies the criteria in § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B).
Further, consistent with the rule requirement, a motion for redaction must include a proposed redacted
decision. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within the requirements of that
provision, I will delete such material from public access.
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.
       On November 12, 2014, petitioners moved for a decision dismissing their petition,
acknowledging that they will be unable to prove they are entitled to compensation in the
Program.

        To receive compensation under the Program, petitioners must prove either 1) that A.H.
suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table – corresponding
to one of A.H.’s vaccinations, or 2) that A.H. suffered an injury that was actually caused by a
vaccine. See §§ 300aa-13(a)(1)(A) and 300aa-11(c)(1). An examination of the record did not
uncover any evidence that A.H. suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record does not contain a
medical expert’s opinion or any other persuasive evidence indicating that A.H.’s alleged injury
was vaccine-caused.

        Under the Act, petitioners may not be given a Program award based solely on the
petitioners’ claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by
the opinion of a competent physician. § 300aa-13(a)(1). In this case, because there are
insufficient medical records supporting petitioners’ claim, a medical opinion must be offered in
support. Petitioners, however, have offered no such opinion.

       Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioners have failed to
demonstrate either that A.H. suffered a “Table Injury” or that A.H.’s 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/George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                     George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                     Special Master