Court Opinion

ID: 5175871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-04 18:01:15.128168+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:26:18.232055
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                           No. 18-683V
                                    Filed: December 10, 2021
                                         UNPUBLISHED

    MERRICK BRUNKER,                                             Special Master Horner
                         Petitioner,                             Petitioner’s Motion for Decision
    v.                                                           Dismissing Petition;
                                                                 Meningococcal vaccine; Human
    SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                                      Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
    HUMAN SERVICES,

                        Respondent.

Phyllis Widman, Widman Law Firm LLC, Northfield NJ, for petitioner.
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                               DECISION 1

        On May 14, 2018, petitioner filed a claim under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that he suffered myalgias,
headaches, unsteady movements, tics, chest pain, aggression and depression,
emotional and psychological distress, and significant aggravation of a underlying
condition as a result of his July 15, 2016 meningococcal and human papillomavirus
(“HPV”) vaccinations. (ECF No. 1.) On November 23, 2018, respondent filed his Rule 4
report, recommending against compensation. (ECF No. 20.) Ultimately, petitioner filed
a status report on November 16, 2021 indicating that he intended to leave the program
in order to pursue a civil action for damages. (ECF No. 82.)

        On December 9, 2021, petitioner filed a Motion for a Decision Dismissing his
Petition. (ECF No. 84.) Petitioner indicated that “[a]n 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,” and that “to proceed

1
  Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, it will
be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. See 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic
Government Services). This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the
Internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact
medical or other information the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
If the special master, upon review, agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, it will be
redacted from public access.
further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources of the Court, the
respondent, and the Vaccine Program.” (Id. at 2.) Petitioner further stated that he
“understands that a decision by the Special Master dismissing his petition will result in a
judgment against him. He has been advised that such a judgment will end all of his
rights in the Vaccine Program.” (Id. at 2.)

        To receive compensation in the Vaccine Program, petitioner must prove either
(1) that he suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table
– corresponding to a covered vaccine, or (2) that he suffered an injury that was actually
caused by a covered vaccine. See §§ 13(a)(1)(A) and 11(c)(1). To satisfy his burden of
proving causation in fact, petitioner must show by preponderant evidence: “(1) a
medical theory causally connecting the vaccination and the injury; (2) a logical
sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for the
injury; and (3) a showing of a proximate temporal relationship between vaccination and
injury.” Althen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir.
2005). The Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1), prohibits the undersigned from
ruling for petitioner based solely on his allegations unsubstantiated by medical records
or medical opinion.

        Based on my review of the entire record, and for all the reasons discussed in
prior orders during the pendency of this action (ECF Nos. 61, 69, and 79), petitioner’s
medical records and expert reports do not support his allegations by a preponderance
of the evidence. Accordingly, the undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion for a
decision dismissing his petition and DISMISSES this petition for failure to establish a
prima facie case of entitlement to compensation.

                                           CONCLUSION

      This case is now DISMISSED. The clerk of the court is directed to enter
judgment in accordance with this decision. 2

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                                  s/Daniel T. Horner
                                                                  Daniel T. Horner
                                                                  Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.

                                                   2