VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01044
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01044
Petitioner: Richard Florida
Filed: 2016-01-19
Decided: 2016-01-19
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2012-10-02
Condition: encephalitis
Outcome: dismissed
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
Richard Florida, born October 30, 1947, filed a petition on October 27, 2014, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 2, 2012, caused him to develop encephalitis seven days later. The respondent was the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Florida's counsel was Amy J. Coco, and respondent's counsel was Debra A. Filteau Begley. Special Master Laura D. Millman presided over the case. The petitioner's medical records did not substantiate that his subsequent complaints of left hand weakness and twitching were causally related to the encephalitis or the vaccination. Furthermore, doctors found no objective evidence that his symptoms were due to the encephalitis or that they were related to the influenza vaccination. A key requirement of the Vaccine Act is that a vaccine injury or its sequelae must last more than six months to be compensable. Mr. Florida's medical records indicated he had returned to baseline by October 13, 2012, less than two weeks after vaccination. Consequently, he was unable to prove that his injury or its sequelae lasted more than six months. On January 19, 2016, Mr. Florida filed a motion to dismiss his petition, stating he would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation and that further proceedings would be unreasonable and a waste of resources. Special Master Millman granted the motion, dismissing the case and finding that Mr. Florida failed to make a prima facie case under the Vaccine Act. The decision was issued on January 19, 2016.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Richard Florida, born October 30, 1947, received an influenza vaccine on October 2, 2012, and alleged subsequent encephalitis seven days later. The alleged sequelae included left hand weakness and twitching. Petitioner's medical records did not substantiate a causal relationship between the alleged injury and the vaccination, nor did they provide objective evidence of causation. A critical element for compensation under the Vaccine Act is that the injury or its sequelae must last more than six months. Petitioner's medical records indicated he returned to baseline by October 13, 2012, less than two weeks post-vaccination, failing to meet the six-month duration requirement. Petitioner subsequently filed a motion to dismiss, acknowledging an inability to prove entitlement to compensation. Special Master Laura D. Millman granted the motion on January 19, 2016, dismissing the case for failure to establish a prima facie case. Petitioner's counsel was Amy J. Coco, and respondent's counsel was Debra A. Filteau Begley. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury or name any medical experts.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01044-0
Date issued/filed: 2016-02-09
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/19/2016) regarding 22 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-01044-UNJ Document 23 Filed 02/09/16 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-1044V
Filed: January 19, 2016
Not to be Published
*************************************
RICHARD FLORIDA, *
*
Petitioner, * Petitioner’s motion for dismissal
* granted; influenza vaccine;
v. * encephalitis; sequelae not lasting
* more than six months
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*************************************
Amy J. Coco, Pittsburgh, PA, for petitioner.
Debra A. Filteau Begley, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION1
On October 27, 2014, petitioner filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that influenza vaccine administered
October 2, 2012 caused him encephalitis seven days later. See Pet. at 1.
However, petitioner’s medical records do not substantiate that his complaints of left hand
weakness and twitching are causally related to his 2012 encephalitis or his flu vaccination. Med.
recs. Ex. 3, at 20, 27. From the first telephonic status conference, held January 13, 2015, through
the three remaining status conferences, the issue has always been whether or not petitioner could
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this case, the
special master 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, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17,
2002). Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the
public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and
confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioners have 14 days to identify and move to
redact such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that
the identified material fits within the categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material
from public access.

Case 1:14-vv-01044-UNJ Document 23 Filed 02/09/16 Page 2 of 2
prove more than six months of sequelae, as the Vaccine Act requires. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-
11(c)(1)(D)(i) (2012).
On January 19, 2016, petitioner filed a Motion for Dismissal, stating that “he will be
unable to prove that he is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” Mot. for Dismissal,
¶ 1. He also states that “to proceed further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources
of the Court, the respondent, and the Vaccine Program.” Id. at ¶ 2. The undersigned grants
petitioner’s motion and dismisses this case.
FACTS
Petitioner was born on October 30, 1947.
He received influenza vaccine on October 2, 2012. Med. recs. Ex. 3, at 56. He
subsequently experienced encephalitis, but reported to Dr. Erek M. Lam that he had returned to
baseline by October 13, 2012. Med. recs. Ex. 5, at 129.
Doctors subsequently stated that there was no objective evidence that petitioner’s left
hand weakness and twitching were due to his encephalitis (med. recs. Ex. 3, at 20) and no causal
evidence that his symptoms were related to the influenza vaccination (Id. at 27).
DISCUSSION
Under the Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i), petitioner must prove that his
vaccine injury or its sequelae lasted more than six months. Petitioner failed to prove that and
now moves for dismissal of his petition.
The undersigned GRANTS petitioner’s motion to dismiss and DISMISSES this case for
petitioner’s failure to make a prima facie case under the Vaccine Act.
CONCLUSION
This petition is DISMISSED. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to
RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 19, 2016 s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(b), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either jointly or separately,
filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2