VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00919 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00919 Petitioner: Jessie M. Holloway Filed: 2017-10-30 Decided: 2017-12-05 Vaccine: Prevnar 13 Vaccination date: 2015-12-17 Condition: pneumonitis and respiratory problems Outcome: dismissed Award amount USD: AI-assisted case summary: Jessie M. Holloway filed a petition on October 30, 2017, alleging that she suffered from pneumonitis and respiratory problems as a result of a Prevnar 13 vaccine administered on December 17, 2015. The petition was filed under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. After investigating the facts, Ms. Holloway concluded that she would be unable to prove her entitlement to compensation. Consequently, she moved for a dismissal of her claim, which was unopposed by the Respondent. The court noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table Injury or that the vaccine actually caused the injury. The record did not contain evidence of a Table Injury, nor persuasive evidence that the alleged injury was caused by the vaccine. Furthermore, the petition was not supported by sufficient medical records or a competent physician's opinion. The case was therefore dismissed for insufficient proof. Theory of causation field: unclear Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00919-0 Date issued/filed: 2017-12-05 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/30/2017) regarding 38 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (azc) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:16-vv-00919-UNJ Document 40 Filed 12/05/17 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: October 30, 2017 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JESSIE M. HOLLOWAY, * No. 16-919V * Petitioner, * Special Master Sanders * v. * * Dismissal; Insufficient Proof; SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Prevnar 13 Vaccine; Pneumonitis; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Respiratory Problems. * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sean F. Greenwood, The Greenwood Law Firm, Houston, TX, for Petitioner. Robert P. Coleman, III, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent. DECISION1 On August 2, 2016, Jessie M. Holloway (“Petitioner”) filed a petition pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Vaccine Program”).2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10 to -34 (2012). Petitioner alleged that she suffered from pneumonitis and respiratory problems as a result of a Prevnar 13 vaccine administered on December 17, 2015. Pet. 1, ECF No. 1. The information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to an award under the Program. On October 30, 2017, Petitioner moved for a decision dismissing her claim. Pet’r’s Mot. Dismiss, ECF No. 37. Petitioner conceded that “[a]n investigation of the facts 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. Petitioner filed this motion without opposition from Respondent. Id. at 2. 1 This decision shall be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:16-vv-00919-UNJ Document 40 Filed 12/05/17 Page 2 of 2 To receive compensation under the Program, Petitioner must prove either 1) that she suffered a “Table Injury”—i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table—corresponding to the vaccination, or 2) that she suffered an injury that was actually caused by a vaccine. See §§ 13(a)(1)(A), 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 persuasive evidence that her alleged injury was caused by the Prevnar 13 vaccine. Under the Act, petitioners may not be given a Program award based solely on their claims alone. Rather, the petition must be supported by medical records or the opinion of a competent physician. § 13(a)(1). In this case, the medical records are insufficient to prove Petitioner’s claim, and Petitioner has not filed a supportive opinion from an expert witness. Therefore, this case must be dismissed for insufficient proof. The Clerk shall enter judgment accordingly. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Herbrina D. Sanders Herbrina D. Sanders Special Master 2