Court Opinion

ID: 4366868
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-11 21:01:55.054186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:03.736319
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 16-1122V
                                     (Filed: January 15, 2019)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                       *
KAREN L. CHRISTNER,                               *        UNPUBLISHED
                                                  *
                Petitioner,                       *
                                                  *        Dismissal; Death of Petitioner;
v.                                                *        Lack of Proper Petitioner;
                                                  *        Court of Federal Claims Rule 25
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                               *
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                               *
                                                  *
                Respondent.                       *
                                                  *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *                       *

Braden Blumenstiel, Esq., Blumenstiel Falvo, LLC, Dublin, OH, for petitioner.
Darryl Wishard, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                               DECISION1

Roth, Special Master:

        On September 12, 2016, Karen Christner (“Ms. Christner” or “petitioner”) timely filed a
petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-10, et seq.2 (“Vaccine Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that she received an influenza
vaccine on September 13, 2013, and thereafter suffered from “pain, weakness, and limitations in
her legs,” and paraplegia. Petition at ¶¶4, 5. The petition must be dismissed due to the lack of a
proper plaintiff to maintain the action.

1
  Although this Decision has been formally designated “unpublished,” it will nevertheless be posted on the
Court of Federal Claims’s website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-
347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2006)). This means the Decision
will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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 whole Decision will be available to the public. Id.
2
 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755 (1986). Hereinafter,
for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2012).
                                     I.      Procedural History

         The petition was filed on September 12, 2016, along with petitioner’s first affidavit, filed
as Pet. Ex. 1. ECF No. 1. Petitioner filed medical records on November 2, 2016. Pet. Ex. 1-5, ECF
No. 7. The initial status conference was held on December 8, 2016. During the conference, it was
noted that the medical records and petitioner’s affidavit were inconsistent with respect to the onset
of petitioner’s symptoms. Petitioner was ordered to file a status report indicating how she intended
to proceed. Scheduling Order, ECF No. 9. On March 8, 2017, petitioner filed a status report which
advised that she planned to file an expert report in support of her claim. ECF No. 17.

       Petitioner filed additional medical records on December 19, 2016; March 3, 2017; March
9, 2017; and May 18, 2017. See Pet. Ex. 6-7, ECF No. 10; Pet. Ex. 9-13G, ECF No. 15; Pet. Ex.
13-19, ECF No. 19; Pet. Ex. 20, ECF No. 28. Petitioner filed a supplemental affidavit on January
6, 2017, as Pet. Ex. 8.3 ECF No. 14.

        On September 19, 2017, petitioner filed expert reports from Dr. Kisanuki (Pet. Ex. 21), Dr.
Racke (Pet. Ex. 22), and Dr. Miller (Pet. Ex. 23). ECF Nos. 39-40. These reports were discussed
during a status conference held on September 27, 2017. I noted Dr. Kisanuki and Dr. Racke,
petitioner’s treating physicians, both stated that they could not connect petitioner’s receipt of the
flu vaccine to her onset of TM eight months later. Scheduling Order at 1, ECF No. 42. Furthermore,
the report authored by Dr. Miller was based on the facts as stated in petitioner’s affidavit, which
were not supported by the contemporaneous medical records. Id.

        Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) Report on October 4, 2017, which stated that petitioner had
presented insufficient evidence to meet the Althen criteria. ECF No. 46. Respondent further
asserted that the petition lacked a reasonable basis. Id. at 13. Respondent filed a journal article, R.
Baxter et al., Acute Demyelinating Events Following Vaccines: A Case-Centered Analysis, 63 CLIN
INFECT DIS 11: 1456-62 (2016) (Resp. Ex. A); a short biography of Dr. Miller and a list of his
publications from the Northwestern website (Resp. Ex. B); an article on the symptoms and causes
of transverse myelitis from the Mayo Clinic website (Resp. Ex. C); a short biography of Dr. Racke
from The Ohio State University website (Resp. Ex. D); a PubMed generated list of publications
by Dr. Racke (Resp. Ex. E); and a short biography of Dr. Kisanuki from The Ohio State University
website (Resp. Ex. F). ECF No. 46.

        Braden Blumenstiel substituted in as attorney of record on November 6, 2017 in place of
attorney James Blumenstiel. ECF No. 47. A status conference was held on November 20, 2017,
during which I again discussed the medical records, including the eight-month gap between
petitioner’s receipt of the influenza vaccine and the first documentation of her onset of symptoms
on May 8, 2014. More specifically, that the medical records reflect no complaints until May 8,
2014, associated with her presentation to the emergency room at which time she advised medical

3
  Petitioner’s first affidavit placed the onset of her symptoms “around Christmas of 2013,” but her
supplemental affidavit placed onset of her symptoms “…within two months of [her] flu vaccination on
September 13, 2013….” See Pet. Ex. 1 at ¶12, ECF No. 1; Pet. Ex. 8 at ¶11, ECF No. 14. However, neither
of these affidavits explained why petitioner reported an onset of symptoms “that morning” when she
presented to the emergency room on May 8, 2014, nine months after her vaccination. See Pet. Ex. 1 at 1-3,
ECF No. 7.

                                                   2
personnel of onset earlier that morning that had progressed. Scheduling Order at 1, ECF No. 48;
see also Pet. Ex. 1 at 1-3. Petitioner’s counsel was advised that, “even if one were to accept the
timing as presented by petitioner in her affidavit…a three month onset is not supported by the
relevant medical literature.” Id.

        On December 20, 2017, petitioner filed a status report and a Motion for Extension of Time
until January 5, 2018, to advise how petitioner intended to proceed. ECF No. 51. This request was
granted. Non-PDF Order, issued Dec. 20, 2017.

        On January 8, 2018, petitioner filed a status report which advised that she would like to
confer with an expert and participate in an onset hearing wherein petitioner could testify “regarding
the onset of her symptoms and the impact they have had on her activities of daily life.” Pet. S.R.
at 2, ECF No. 52.

        A status conference was held on February 20, 2018. During the conference, I explained
that, while I am sympathetic to petitioner’s condition and appreciated the limitations with which
petitioner now lives, it is unlikely that an onset hearing would benefit petitioner, as it may result
in further inconsistencies in petitioner’s representation of the onset of her symptoms. Additionally,
any testimony from petitioner regarding the impact of her TM on her daily life would be proof of
damages, not onset or entitlement. Scheduling Order at 1-2, ECF No. 57. I also explained the
different ways to exit the Vaccine Program. Petitioner’s counsel requested time to confer with his
client and determine the appropriate avenue for dismissal of petitioner’s claim. Id. at 2.

         Petitioner filed a status report on March 26, 2018, advising that she would like respondent
to file a motion to dismiss. Pet. S.R. at 1, ECF No. 60. Petitioner explained that she would like the
opportunity to respond to respondent’s arguments regarding her claim.

       On March 27, 2018, respondent filed a Motion for Summary Judgment rather than a Motion
to Dismiss. ECF No. 61. Petitioner filed a response on April 10, 2018. ECF No. 62. On July 25,
2018, I issued an Order denying summary judgment noting that there was a genuine issue of
material fact in dispute which needed to be determined – the date of onset of petitioner’s
symptoms. See Order at 3, ECF No. 63.

        A status conference was held on September 5, 2018, during which petitioner’s counsel
requested and was granted a final 30 days to file any additional evidence in support of her claim
before respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss. Scheduling Order, ECF No. 65.

       On October 4, 2018, petitioner’s counsel filed a status report advising that petitioner had
passed away several months prior and requesting a status conference to discuss how to proceed.4
ECF No. 66. On October 5, 2018, respondent filed his Motion to Dismiss. ECF No. 67.

        A status conference was held on October 12, 2018. During the conference, I stated that
prior counsel had advised that petitioner did not have any immediate family. Petitioner’s counsel
stated that he did not believe that an estate had been opened and was unsure whether petitioner had
any surviving relatives. Petitioner’s counsel was ordered to file a status report by November 26,
4
    Apparently, petitioner had passed away in July of 2018.

                                                      3
2018, on his efforts to locate a relative or friend that had been appointed to handle the late
petitioner’s affairs. Scheduling Order, ECF No. 68.

        On November 28, 2018, petitioner’s counsel filed a status report describing his attempts to
contact the individuals listed in petitioner’s obituary. Petitioner’s counsel advised that he had been
unsuccessful in locating petitioner’s next of kin but would continue his efforts. Status Report, ECF
No. 69.

        On November 29, 2018, I issued an Order citing to Rule 25(a)(1) and advising petitioner’s
counsel that the 90-day window for the substitution of the proper party would end on January 2,
2019. I ordered petitioner’s counsel to file a Motion to Substitute a representative for petitioner by
January 2, 2019, or the petition would be dismissed.

       Petitioner’s counsel failed to file a Motion to Substitute a representative for petitioner, or
any communication with the Court, by January 2, 2019. As of this date, petitioner’s counsel has
not communicated with the Court. Accordingly, the petition must be dismissed.

                                        II.          Legal Standard

       The Vaccine Rules do not address the consequences of the death of the petitioner. Thus, in
the absence of any specific direction, the Rules of the Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) are
consulted. See Vaccine Rule 1(c). Rule 25 of the RCFC states:

          If a party dies and the claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of
          the proper party. A motion for substitution may be made by any party or by the
          decedent’s successor or representative. If the motion is not made within 90 days
          after service of a statement noting the death, the action by the decent must be
          dismissed.

RCFC Rule 25(a)(1) (emphasis added).

                                              III.     Discussion

        The Court was notified of petitioner’s death via status report on October 4, 2018, which
triggered the time allotted by RCFC Rule 25 for a motion for substitution to be filed. See ECF No.
66. A motion for substitution was not filed within 90 days of the filing of petitioner’s counsel’s
status report advising of petitioner’s death. Thus, pursuant to Rule 25, the petition must be
dismissed due to the lack of a proper plaintiff to maintain the action.

                                               IV. Conclusion

        For the foregoing reason, this case is dismissed.5 In the absence of a timely filed motion
for review pursuant to Vaccine Rule 23, the Clerk is directed to enter judgment consistent with

5
    Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss filed on October 5, 2018, is hereby rendered moot. See ECF No. 67.

                                                        4
this decision.6

        IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                          s/ Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                          Mindy Michaels Roth
                                                          Special Master

6
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11 (a), if a motion for review is not filed within 30 days after the filing of the
special master’s decision, the clerk will enter judgment immediately.

                                                     5