VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01072
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01072
Petitioner: M.a.-S.m.
Filed: 2015-06-03
Decided: 2015-07-28
Vaccine: pertussis
Vaccination date: 2012-03-28
Condition: ongoing post-pertussis cough, reactive airway disease (RAD) and speech delay
Outcome: dismissed
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
On November 4, 2014, Candi Gonzalez, as the natural mother and guardian of her minor child M.A.-S.M., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that vaccinations administered to M.A.-S.M. on March 28, 2012, including one against pertussis, caused the child to develop pertussis. The alleged resulting conditions were ongoing post-pertussis cough, reactive airway disease (RAD), and speech delay, which lasted more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a report on March 2, 2015, indicating that the case was not appropriate for compensation. The respondent argued that the petitioner had not provided sufficient proof of vaccine causation. Specifically, the respondent noted that the alleged injury was not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table and that there was insufficient evidence to establish that the pertussis vaccine caused pertussis in this specific case. Subsequently, on May 26, 2015, the petitioner filed a motion to dismiss her own case, stating that an investigation into the facts and science supporting her claim had demonstrated that she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation. The respondent did not oppose this motion. Special Master Brian H. Corcoran reviewed the case. The public decision does not describe the specific clinical story, onset, symptoms, tests, or treatments. The public decision also does not name any medical experts. The Special Master found that the record lacked evidence of a "Table Injury" and insufficient persuasive evidence that the vaccination caused the alleged injury, a conclusion supported by the petitioner's own acknowledgment. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof, and judgment was entered accordingly. The public decision does not specify an award amount or annuity terms.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner Candi Gonzalez, on behalf of minor M.A.-S.M., alleged that a pertussis vaccine administered on March 28, 2012, caused M.A.-S.M. to develop pertussis, resulting in ongoing post-pertussis cough, reactive airway disease (RAD), and speech delay lasting over six months. The respondent argued insufficient proof of vaccine causation, noting the injury was not on the Vaccine Injury Table and there was insufficient evidence of specific causation. Petitioner subsequently moved to dismiss, acknowledging an inability to prove entitlement. Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found no evidence of a "Table Injury" and insufficient persuasive evidence of actual causation, supported by petitioner's acknowledgment. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof. No specific medical experts or mechanism of injury were detailed in the public decision. The outcome was dismissal with no award.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-01072-0
Date issued/filed: 2015-07-28
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/03/2015) Regarding 19 DECISION of Special Master (Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran). (ay) Copy to parties.
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Case 1:14-vv-01072-UNJ Document 29 Filed 07/28/15 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 14-1072V
(Not to be Published)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CANDI GONZALEZ, Natural Mother and * Filed: June 3, 2015
Guardian for M.A.-S.M., a minor, *
*
Petitioner, * Petitioner’s Motion for a Decision
v. * Dismissing the Petition; Vaccine Act
* Entitlement; Denial Without Hearing
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Carol L. Gallagher, Carol L. Gallagher, Esquire, LLC, Linwood, NJ, for Petitioner.
Ryan D. Pyles, U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION DISMISSING CASE1
On November 4, 2014, Candi Gonzalez, as mother and guardian of her minor child, M.A.-
S.M., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program (the “Vaccine Program”).2 Petitioner alleged that vaccinations administered to M.A.-
S.M. on March 28, 2012, including an immunization against pertussis, actually caused M.A.-S.M.
to develop pertussis, and that the illness ultimately caused “ongoing post-pertussis cough, reactive
airway disease (RAD) and speech delay,” which lasted more than six months. See Pet. at 1 (ECF
No. 1).
1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for my action in this case, it will be posted on the website of
the United States Court of Federal Claims, 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 note (2006)). As provided by 42 U.S.C. §
300aa-12(d)(4)(B), however, the parties may object to the inclusion of certain kinds of confidential information. To
do so, Vaccine Rule 18(b) provides that 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 decision will be available to the public. Id.
2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation 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 through 34 (2006))
[hereinafter “Vaccine Act” or “the Act”]. Individual sections references hereafter will be to § 300aa of the Act.

Case 1:14-vv-01072-UNJ Document 29 Filed 07/28/15 Page 2 of 2
On March 2, 2015, Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) reporting indicating that this case was not
appropriate for compensation. Resp’t’s Rule 4(c) Report (ECF No. 13) at 1. Respondent argued
that “Petitioner has not provided sufficient proof of vaccine causation to be awarded
compensation.” Id. at 2. First, Respondent noted that “Petitioner has not alleged, nor does the
record support, an injury covered by the Vaccine Injury Table.” Id. at 2-3. Second, Respondent
indicated that “Petitioner here has not provided sufficiently reliable evidence of causation that []
required to establish a prima facie case that the pertussis vaccine can cause pertussis and that the
pertussis vaccine in fact caused pertussis specifically in [this] case.” Id. at 3-4.
Petitioner has now filed a motion seeking dismissal of this case. Pet’r’s Mot. for Decision
Dismissing her Pet., dated May 26, 2015 (ECF No. 18). In that motion, Petitioner indicates that
“[a]n investigation of facts and science supporting her case has demonstrated to [P]etitioner that
she will be unable to prove that she is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” Id. at 1.
My chambers contacted Respondent, who expressed no opposition to the motion.
To receive compensation under the Vaccine Program, a petitioner must prove either (1)
that she suffered a “Table Injury” – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table –
corresponding to one of her vaccinations, or (2) that she suffered an injury that was actually caused
by a vaccine. See §§13(a)(1)(A) and 11(c)(1). An examination of the record, however, does not
uncover any evidence that M.A.-S.M. suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the record does not
contain sufficient persuasive evidence establishing that the alleged injury that M.A.-S.M.
experienced could have been caused by the vaccination(s) received and Petitioner herself has
acknowledged she possesses no contrary evidence.
Under the Vaccine Act, a petitioner may not receive a Vaccine Program award based solely
on her claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by the
opinion of a competent physician. §13(a)(1). In this case, there is insufficient evidence in the record
for Petitioner to meet her burden of proof. Petitioner’s claim therefore cannot succeed and must
be dismissed. §11(c)(1)(A).
Thus, this case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment
accordingly.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Special Master
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