Court Opinion

ID: 4700609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-01 20:04:27.311823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:11.728844
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                            No. 16-524V
                                         (Not to be Published)

*************************
MONIKA PIATEK,                    *
Parent of N.P., a minor,          *
                                  *                                       Chief Special Master Corcoran
                      Petitioner, *
                                  *                                       Dated: May 19, 2021
v.                                *
                                  *
                                  *
                                  *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND           *
HUMAN SERVICES,                   *
                                  *
                      Respondent. *
                                  *
*************************

Edward M. Kraus, Law Offices of Chicago Kent, Chicago, IL, for Petitioner.

Meghan Murphy, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                  DECISION DISMISSING PETITION 1

        On April 28, 2016, Monika Piatek filed a petition seeking compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”), 2 on behalf of her minor child, N.P.,
alleging that the human papillomavirus (“HPV”) vaccine N.P. received on August 31, 2001 caused
her to suffer from reactive arthritis, dysautonomia, autonomic neuropathy, POTS, and IBS

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  Although this Decision has been formally designated “not to be published,” it will nevertheless be posted on the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 that 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 whole Decision will be available to the public.
Id.
2
 The Vaccine Program comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660,
100 Stat. 3755 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–34 (2012)) (hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”).
All subsequent references to sections of the Vaccine Act shall be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa.
associated with POTS.

         This matter was originally assigned to former Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Feldman.
Throughout 2016, Petitioner filed various medical records and on October 14, 2016, Respondent
filed a Rule 4(c) Report. See Report, dated Oct. 14, 2016 (ECF No. 20). A Rule 5 Status Conference
was held on November 15, 2016. See Docket Entry, dated Nov. 15, 2016. Petitioner was then
ordered to file an expert report in support of her claim and Respondent was ordered to file a
responsive expert report. See Scheduling Order, dated Dec. 7, 2016 (ECF No. 23).

        This case was reassigned to Special Master Herbrina Sanders on January 12, 2017. Both
Petitioner and Respondent filed expert reports and then the parties agreed to pursue litigative risk
settlement. Settlement negotiations failed, however, and Respondent requested an expert hearing.
See Status Report, filed Jan. 16, 2018 (ECF No. 37). A supplemental expert report was
subsequently filed by Petitioner and Respondent chose not to respond. This case was reassigned
to me on March 2, 2021. See Docket Entry, dated Mar. 3, 2021. A status conference was held on
March 12, 2021, after which the parties were ordered to file a joint status report indicating whether
they would like to resolve this matter on the papers or schedule a hearing. See Order, dated Mar.
12, 2021.

        After opting for a ruling on the record, Petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing
the claim on May 18, 2021. See Motion, dated May 18, 2021 (ECF No. 50) (“Motion”). In it,
Petitioner maintains that the Gardasil vaccine administered to N.P. was the cause of N.P.’s arthritis
and other illnesses, but nonetheless requests a decision dismissing her claim based on N.P.’s
improved health during the five-year pendency of this lawsuit and a desire to end the litigation.
See Motion at 1. Petitioner acknowledged in her motion she understands that a decision dismissing
her petition will result in a judgment against her, and that such a judgment will end all her rights in the
Vaccine Program. Id. She also noted that Respondent reserved the right to challenge the good faith and
reasonable basis of this claim and to oppose, if appropriate, an application for fees and costs. Id. at 1-
2. And she asserts that Respondent does not object to the relief sought in the motion. Id. at 2.

                                                  ANALYSIS

         The provisions under the Vaccine Rules for ending a case before a decision has been issued
are largely inapplicable herein. Petitioner may no longer avail himself of Vaccine Rule
21(a)(1)(A), which governs voluntary dismissals before service of the Rule 4(c) Report, and
Respondent has not stipulated to dismissal under Rule 21(a)(1)(B). In addition, even if the parties
had so stipulated, Petitioner seeks entry of a judgment, whereas Vaccine Rule 21(a) would only
result in an “order concluding proceedings.” Rule 21(a)(3).

        Accordingly, the only remaining channel for the relief Petitioner requests is a “motion

                                                    2
seeking dismissal”—a mechanism for ending cases that other claimants have used, either because
they have determined that the claim cannot succeed, or simply because they choose not to continue
with the claim, but have reached that determination after the time to act under Rule 21 has passed.
See, e.g., Goldie v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., No. 18-1476V, 2019 WL 6045647, at *1
(Fed. Cl Spec. Mstr. Oct. 11, 2019). Dismissal of Vaccine Program cases at this particular stage
of the litigation is not uncommon. Indeed, the rules of the Court of Federal Claims (which are
properly applied herein) 3 permit dismissal of claims at a petitioner/plaintiff’s request and “on terms
that the court considers proper.” RCFC 41(a)(2).

         I find it is appropriate to grant Petitioner’s Motion. Expediency, judicial efficiency, and
providing fairness to Vaccine Program claimants—values that constantly inform the work of
special masters in deciding vaccine injury claims—all counsel in favor of allowing dismissal even
at this late stage in the proceedings. Dismissal of the case will obviate the need to write a lengthy
decision, and cut off the prospect of future appeal as well (at least on matters not pertaining to
attorney’s fees), thus further preserving judicial resources. And based upon Petitioner’s Motion, it
is my understanding that Petitioner is prepared to live with the consequences of dismissal
(including my preliminary determination that it is unlikely Petitioner’s claim would have
succeeded had it been resolved, whether at trial or via ruling on the record). Respondent otherwise
does not appear to oppose the motion.

        This dismissal is with prejudice. 4 Petitioner’s Motion came after the parties had opted for
a ruling on the record and after nearly five years of litigation, so the possibility of its return is
reasonably foreclosed. I also reiterate that it does not appear Petitioner can meet her evidentiary
standard. And I note that Respondent has not conceded that the claim possessed reasonable basis,
and therefore may challenge any final fees request in this matter on that ground.

3
  The Vaccine Rules specifically stated that the Rules of the Court of Federal Claims “apply only to the extent they
are consistent with the Vaccine Rules,” and otherwise empower special masters to “regulate the applicable practice”
under the Vaccine rules “[i]n any matter not specifically addressed” therein. Vaccine Rule 1(b) and (c). Here, I find
that permitting dismissal—in the form stated in this Decision— based on a rule of the Court of Federal Claims is fully
consistent with the Vaccine Rules, given that language of Vaccine Rule 21 does not cover voluntary dismissal by court
order, whereas RCFC 41 does cover voluntary dismissal by court order. Thus RCFC 41(a)(2) addresses a situation not
contemplated by Vaccine Rule 21.
4
 Rule 41(a)(2) gives the Court discretion as to whether a dismissal should be with or without prejudice. See Giesecke
& Devrient GmbH v. United States, 146 Fed. Cl. 631, 641 (Fed. Cl. 2020) (“[u]nder Rule 41(a)(2), a voluntary
dismissal by court order is ‘without prejudice’ unless the court finds that the defendant will suffer legal prejudice,
such as when a plaintiff “does not seek dismissal until a late stage” in the litigation”). There are three factors to
consider on whether a dismissal should be with or without prejudice: “(i) the burden on the defendant if the case were
to be dismissed without prejudice; (ii) the progress of the litigation; and (iii) the diligence and good faith of the
plaintiff.” Klamath Irrigation District v. United States, 116 Fed. Cl. 117, 119 (Fed. Cl. 2014).

                                                          3
                                                 CONCLUSION

        Petitioner’s Motion for a Decision Dismissing her Petition is hereby GRANTED, and the
Petition is dismissed with prejudice. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC
Appendix B, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms
of this decision. 5

         IT IS SO ORDERED.
                                                                s/ Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                Brian H. Corcoran
                                                                Chief Special Master

5
 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties may expedite entry of judgment if (jointly or separately) they file notices
renouncing their right to seek review.

                                                           4