Court Opinion

ID: 3204245
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-17 20:02:18.018939+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:44.761833
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                   Filed: April 26, 2016

*************************************              UNPUBLISHED
THUY NGUYEN, as Parent and Natural         *
Guardian of S.N.,                          *
                                           *
                     Petitioner.           *       No. 12-479V
                                           *
 v.                                        *
                                           *       Chief Special Master Dorsey
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                        *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                        *       DTap; Hib; IPV; Prevnar;
                                           *       Rotavirus; Sudden Infant Death
                     Respondent.           *       Syndrome (“SIDS”).
                                           *
*************************************
Anne C. Toale, Maglio, Christopher & Toale, Sarasota, FL, for petitioner.
Lara Englund, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC for respondent.

                            DECISION DISMISSING PETITION 1

       On July 27, 2012, Thuy Nguyen (“petitioner”) filed a petition on behalf of her deceased
minor child, S.N., for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 300aa-10 et seq. (2012) (“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving
DTaP, Hib, IPV, Prevnar, and Rotavirus vaccinations on April 4, 2011, S.N. suffered from
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (“SIDS”) and passed away on April 5, 2011. Petition at ¶¶ 2, 4.

        On April 21, 2016, petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing the petition. In the
motion, petitioner states that due “recent developments in SIDS litigation” and the undersigned’s
recent ruling Cozart v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 00-590V, 2015 WL 6746499 (Fed.

1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,
the undersigned 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). 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,
the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within the requirements of that provision,
she will delete such material from public access.

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Cl. Spec. Mstr. Oct. 15, 2015); motion for rev. denied 2016 WL 1165978 (Fed. Cl. March 9,
2016), she will “be unable to prove that she is entitled to compensation.” Petitioner’s (“Pet’r’s”)
Motion for Decision dated April 21, 2016 (ECF No. 66), at ¶ 1. Petitioner states that she
understands that a decision by the Special Master will result in a judgment against her, and that
such a judgment will end all of S.N.’s rights in the Vaccine Program. Id. at ¶ 3. Petitioner also
states that she wishes to preserve her right to file a civil action. Id. at ¶ 5. Respondent does not
oppose petitioner’s motion, except to preserve the right to oppose petitioner’s application for fees
and costs. Id. at ¶ 4.

        To receive compensation under the Program, petitioner must prove either: 1) that S.N.
suffered a “Table Injury”—i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table—corresponding
to a vaccination, or 2) that he 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 S.N. suffered a “Table Injury,” nor does petitioner allege that he suffered a “Table
Injury.” Further, the record does not contain any persuasive evidence indicating that S.N.’s
injury was caused by the vaccinations he received on April 4, 2011.

        Under the Vaccine Act, a petitioner may not be awarded compensation based solely on
the petitioner’s claims. 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 the medical
records are insufficient to establish entitlement to compensation, a medical opinion must be
offered in support. Petitioner has filed expert reports from Dr. M. Eric Gershwin and Dr.
Douglas Miller. Though these opinions have been offered, in light of the undersigned’s recent
ruling in Cozart, they are not persuasive.

       Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that petitioner has failed to
demonstrate either that S.N. suffered a “Table Injury” or that his injuries were caused-in-fact by
vaccination. Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. In the absence of a motion
for review, the Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                     s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                     Nora Beth Dorsey
                                                     Chief Special Master

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