VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00511 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00511 Petitioner: Vyacheslav Zaretskiy Filed: 2014-06-16 Decided: 2015-09-28 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2012-06-21 Condition: Outcome: dismissed Award amount USD: AI-assisted case summary: Vyacheslav Zaretskiy filed a petition on June 16, 2014, alleging injury related to an influenza vaccine received on June 21, 2012. The Special Master issued an order to show cause on May 4, 2015, directing Mr. Zaretskiy to respond by June 3, 2015, regarding why the case should not be dismissed. Mr. Zaretskiy did not respond to this order. On August 28, 2015, the respondent moved to dismiss the case for insufficient proof. The Special Master noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table Injury or that the vaccine actually caused the injury, supported by medical records or a physician's opinion. The public decision does not describe the specific injury suffered, nor does it mention any supporting medical records or physician's opinions in the record. The Special Master found that Mr. Zaretskiy failed to demonstrate a Table Injury or that his injuries were actually caused by the vaccination. Consequently, the case was dismissed for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. No award was granted. The decision was signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. Theory of causation field: Petitioner Vyacheslav Zaretskiy filed a petition on June 16, 2014, alleging injury from an influenza vaccine administered on June 21, 2012. The case was dismissed by Special Master Christian J. Moran on August 28, 2015, for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. Mr. Zaretskiy failed to respond to an order to show cause and did not provide evidence of a Table Injury or actual causation, nor did he submit supporting medical records or a physician's opinion. The public decision does not specify the alleged injury, the mechanism of causation, or any expert testimony. No award was granted. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00511-0 Date issued/filed: 2015-09-28 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 8/28/2015) regarding 24 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (tpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:14-vv-00511-UNJ Document 25 Filed 09/28/15 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * VYACHESLAV ZARETSKIY, * * No. 14-511V Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran * v. * * Filed: August 28, 2015 SECRETARY OF HEALTH * AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Influenza vaccine; failure to * prosecute; insufficient proof Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, for petitioner; Traci R. Patton, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for respondent. UNPUBLISHED DECISION DENYING COMPENSATION1 Vyacheslav Zaretskiy filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10 through 34 (2012), on June 16, 2014. His petition alleged that he developed injuries related to the flu vaccine on June 21, 2012. Pet. at 1. The information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to an award under the Program. I. Procedural History A detailed procedural history of this case can be found in the order to show cause, filed May 4, 2015. In that order, Mr. Zaretskiy was instructed to show cause as to why his case should not be dismissed by June 3, 2015. To date, Mr. 1 The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002), 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. Case 1:14-vv-00511-UNJ Document 25 Filed 09/28/15 Page 2 of 2 Zaretskiy has not responded. On August 28, 2015, respondent moved to dismiss the case for insufficient proof. II. Analysis When a petitioner (or plaintiff) fails to comply with Court orders to prosecute his case, the Court may dismiss the case. Sapharas v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 35 Fed. Cl. 503 (1996); Tsekouras v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 26 Cl. Ct. 439 (1992), aff’d, 991 F.2d 819 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (table); Vaccine Rule 21(c); see also Claude E. Atkins Enters., Inc. v. United States, 889 F.2d 1180, 1183 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (affirming dismissal of case for failure to prosecute for counsel’s failure to submit pre-trial memorandum); Adkins v. United States, 816 F.2d 1580, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (affirming dismissal of case for failure of party to respond to discovery requests). Additionally, 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 of the type of injury suffered. 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, petitioner has not offered no such medical records or opinion. Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that Mr. Zaretskiy has failed to demonstrate either that he suffered a “Table Injury” or that his injuries were “actually caused” by a vaccination. Thus, this case is dismissed for failure to prosecute and for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly. Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Shannon Proctor, at (202) 357-6360. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Christian J. Moran Christian J. Moran Special Master 2