Court Opinion

ID: 4582821
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-02 14:01:32.116725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:16.819931
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                         No. 19-1034V
                                         (Unpublished)

    ************************* *
                                *
    KEANU MITCHELL,             *
                                *
                                *                          Special Master Katherine E. Oler
                    Petitioner, *
                                *                          Filed: September 9, 2020
    v.                          *
                                *
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND     *
    HUMAN SERVICES,             *                          Petitioner’s Motion for a Decision;
                                *                          Dismissal of Petition; Vaccine Act.
                                *
                    Respondent. *
                                *
    ************************* *

Lawrence R. Cohan, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia, PA., for Petitioner.
Catherine E. Stolar, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

               DECISION DISMISSING CASE FOR INSUFFICIENT PROOF1

        On July 17, 2019, Keanu Mitchell (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,2 alleging that he suffered from Guillain-Barré
syndrome (GBS) and Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP) resulting from
the influenza vaccination he received on October 5, 2016. Pet., ECF No. 1. Petitioner filed a
statement of completion on August 16, 2019. ECF No. 8.

       Petitioner filed medical records in support of his claim. (Exs. P1, P2a, P2b, P2c, P3, and
P4). Petitioner also filed an affidavit on August 19, 2019. Ex. P5, ECF No. 9.

1
 Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted
on the Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. §
3501 (2012). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. As
provided by 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4)(B), 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 Decision in its present form will be available. Id.
2
  The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L.
No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3758, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 through 34 (2012) (“Vaccine
Act” or “the Act”). Individual section references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act (but will omit that
statutory prefix).
        On December 16, 2019, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report, indicating he believed that
this case was “not appropriate for compensation under the terms of the Act.” Resp.’s Rep. at 1,
ECF. No. 11. I thereafter ordered Petitioner to file a status report indicating how he would like to
proceed. See Non-PDF Scheduling Order dated 12/17/2019.

        After requesting several extensions of time, Petitioner filed a motion to dismiss on
September 3, 2020, indicating that “an investigation of the facts and science supporting his case
has demonstrated to petitioner that he will be unable to prove that he is entitled to compensation
in the Vaccine Program.” Pet’r’s Mot., ECF No. 19 at 1. He further stated that “in these
circumstances, to proceed further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources of the
Court, the [R]espondent, and the Vaccine Program.” Id. Petitioner stated he “understands that a
decision by the Special Master dismissing his petition will result in a judgment against him” and
he “has been advised that such a judgment will end the instant claim in the Vaccine Program and
has confirmed his understanding in writing.” Id. Petitioner also indicated that he intends to reject
the judgment and file a civil action. Id. Petitioner’s motion further states that “Petitioner’s counsel
will not be seeking costs and fees under these circumstances.” Id.

        To receive compensation under the Vaccine Program, a 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). Moreover, under the Vaccine Act, a petitioner may not
receive a Vaccine Program award based solely on his claims alone. Rather, the petition must be
supported by either medical records or by the opinion of a competent medical expert. § 13(a)(1).
In this case, however, there is insufficient evidence in the record for Petitioner to meet his burden
of proof. Petitioner’s claim therefore cannot succeed and, in accordance with his motion, must be
dismissed. § 11(c)(1)(A).

      Thus, this case is DISMISSED for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment
accordingly.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                               s/ Katherine E. Oler
                                                               Katherine E. Oler
                                                               Special Master

                                                  2