Court Opinion

ID: 3203683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-16 16:02:02.622699+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:27.222118
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                          OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

******************** *
AFTON J. MONTGOMERY,                  *
Individually and on behalf of         *      No. 14-824V
her minor child, CADEN J. BENOIT, *          Special Master Christian J. Moran
                                      *
                   Petitioner,        *      Filed: April 25, 2016
                                      *
v.                                    *
                                      *      Decision dismissing case;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                   *      order to show cause
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                   *
                                      *
                   Respondent.        *
******************** *
Craig S. Watson, Baton Rouge, LA, for petitioner;
Adriana R. Teitel, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for
respondent.

           UNPUBLISHED DECISION DENYING COMPENSATION 1

      Afton J. Montgomery, individually and on behalf of her minor child, Caden
J. Benoit, filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42
U.S.C. §300a-10 et. seq., on September 5, 2014. Her petition alleged that Caden
“developed the mumps, including having a swollen left check with knots,” and
“suffered from mouth sores, speech delay, developmental delay, otalgia and
hearing loss” following the routine childhood vaccinations he received on
September 8, 2011. Pet. at 1. The information in the record, however, does not
show entitlement to an award under the Program.

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          The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this ruling on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
        I.   Procedural History

      A detailed procedural history of this case can be found in the order to show
cause, filed February 26, 2016. In that order, Ms. Montgomery was instructed to
show cause as to why her case should not be dismissed by April 22, 2016. Ms.
Montgomery responded to the order on April 21, 2016.

       In her response to the order, Ms. Montgomery stated that she wrote a letter
and provided medical records to her expert, Jacqueline E. Jones, as directed by the
court. However, after reviewing the records, Dr. Jones’s opinion is that the
vaccines administered to Caden are not linked to his hearing loss. In addition, Ms.
Montgomery stated that she has no other legal theories and/or experts that can
opine that the vaccinations caused Caden’s hearing loss.

       II.   Analysis

       To receive compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program (hereinafter “the 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 one of his vaccinations, 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 Caden suffered a
“Table Injury.” Thus, Ms. Montgomery is necessarily pursuing a causation-in-fact
claim.

       Under the Act, a petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely
on the petitioner’s 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 the medical records do not support petitioner’s claim, a medical
opinion must be offered in support. Ms. Montgomery, however, has offered no
such opinion. Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that Ms.
Montgomery has failed to demonstrate either that Caden suffered a “Table Injury”
or that his injuries were “actually caused” by a vaccination.

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

     Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Shannon Proctor, at (202)
357-6350.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

                        s/Christian J. Moran
                        Christian J. Moran
                        Special Master

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