Court Opinion

ID: 2808016
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-13 05:03:02.831555+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:29.103115
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                        No. 14-950V
                                    Filed: May 19, 2015

*************************                                   UNPUBLISHED
TERRANCE S. BERNSTEIN,                      *
                                            *               Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman
                      Petitioner,           *
                                            *
v.                                          *               Petitioner’s Motion for Dismissal
                                            *               Decision; Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine;
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                         *               Bilateral Brachial Plexopathy.
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                         *
                                            *
                      Respondent.           *
*************************
Richard H. Moeller, Berenstein, Moore, Heffernan, Moeller & Johnson, LLP, Sioux City, Iowa,
                                            for Petitioner.
Justine Walters, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                          DECISION 1

        On October 6, 2014, Terrance Bernstein (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 et seq. (2006)
(“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that the administration of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine on
October 26, 2012 caused him to suffer from bilateral brachial plexopathy. The undersigned now
finds that the information in the record does not show entitlement to an award under the
Program.

        On May 19, 2015, Petitioner filed a Motion for Decision Dismissing his Petition.
According to the motion, “[a]n investigation of the facts and science supporting his case has now
demonstrated to petitioner that he will be unable to prove that he is entitled to compensation in
the Vaccine Program.” Petitioner further states that he understands that a dismissal decision will
result in a judgment against him, and that such a judgment will end all of his rights in the
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 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case,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, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116
Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 and note (2006)). In accordance with
Vaccine Rule 18(b), a party 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,
such material will be deleted from public access.
Vaccine Program. Id.

        To receive compensation under the Vaccine Act, 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 Petitioner suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record does not contain a
medical expert’s opinion or any other persuasive evidence indicating that his injuries were
caused by a vaccination.

        Under the Vaccine Act, a petitioner may not be awarded compensation 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 are insufficient to establish entitlement to compensation, a medical opinion must be
offered in support. Petitioner, however, has offered no such opinion.

       Therefore, the only alternative remains to DENY this petition. 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/Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                     Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman
                                                     Special Master

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