VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00017
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00017
Petitioner: M.R.
Filed: 2017-01-04
Decided: 2017-09-26
Vaccine: Tdap
Vaccination date: 2014-06-16
Condition: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
Outcome: dismissed
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
Rita and Steve Rollins, as parents and natural guardians of M.R., a minor, filed a petition on January 4, 2017, alleging that Tdap and Menactra vaccines administered to M.R. on June 16, 2014, caused her to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending against compensation. This report noted that M.R.'s medical records indicated GBS onset more than eight weeks after vaccination, which is considered a significant delay. During a telephonic status conference, the Special Master noted this delay and referenced a prior GBS case, Corder v. Sec'y of HHS, where a similar delay led to dismissal. Petitioners' counsel stated that he had forwarded the Rule 4(c) Report to the petitioners and to an expert, Dr. Albert Cook, a neurologist, for review. Subsequently, on September 1, 2017, the petitioners filed a Motion for Decision Dismissing Petition. They stated they would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation and wished to avoid wasting court resources. The petitioners also indicated an intent to file a civil action after the dismissal. Special Master Laura D. Millman granted the motion, dismissing the petition. The Special Master reasoned that the petitioners failed to make a prima facie case of causation in fact, as required by the Althen standard. This standard requires proof of a medical theory connecting the vaccination and the injury, a logical sequence of cause and effect, and a proximate temporal relationship. The Special Master noted that M.R.'s medical records did not support causation and that the petitioners had not filed an expert medical report. The petition was dismissed on September 26, 2017.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioners alleged that Tdap and Menactra vaccines administered on June 16, 2014, caused M.R. to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The respondent's Rule 4(c) Report noted that M.R.'s medical records indicated GBS onset more than eight weeks after vaccination, a significant delay. Petitioners' counsel consulted with an expert, Dr. Albert Cook, a neurologist. However, the petitioners ultimately moved to dismiss, stating they could not prove entitlement to compensation and would be unable to make a prima facie case of causation in fact. The Special Master granted the dismissal, finding that M.R.'s medical records did not support causation and that no expert medical report had been filed to establish the required medical theory, logical sequence of cause and effect, and proximate temporal relationship as outlined in Althen v. Sec'y of HHS. The case was dismissed on September 26, 2017, by Special Master Laura D. Millman. Petitioners were represented by Donald P. Edwards, and respondent was represented by Sarah C. Duncan. The theory was considered off-Table, and the petition was dismissed due to failure to establish a prima facie case.

Public staged source text:

================================================================================
DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00017-0
Date issued/filed: 2017-09-26
Pages: 3
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/01/2017) regarding 25 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Copy to parties.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case 1:17-vv-00017-UNJ Document 33 Filed 09/26/17 Page 1 of 3
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 17-17V
Filed: September 1, 2017
Not to be Published.
*************************************
RITA ROLLINS and STEVE ROLLINS, *
as the Parents and Natural Guardians of *
M.R., a Minor,
*
Petitioners, *
* Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
v. * “Tdap”) and meningococcal (“Menactra”)
* vaccines; Guillain-Barré syndrome
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * (“GBS”); petitioners move to dismiss
AND HUMAN SERVICES, *
*
Respondent. *
*
*************************************
Donald P. Edwards, Atlanta, GA, for petitioners.
Sarah C. Duncan, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION1
On January 4, 2017, petitioners filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10-34 (2012), alleging that tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
(“Tdap”) and meningococcal (“Menactra”) vaccinations their daughter M.R. received on June
16, 2014 caused her Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”). Pet. at ¶¶ 2 and 3.
On August 3, 2017, the undersigned issued an Order after a telephonic status conference
in which the undersigned and the parties discussed respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report recommending
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision 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). 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, petitioner has 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 banned categories listed above, the special master shall redact such material from public access.

Case 1:17-vv-00017-UNJ Document 33 Filed 09/26/17 Page 2 of 3
against compensation. Several of M.R.’s contemporaneous medical records state the onset of her
GBS began more than eight weeks after her vaccinations. The undersigned stated that in Corder
v. Sec’y of HHS, No. 08-228V, 2011 WL 2469736 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. May 31, 2011), the
undersigned dismissed a GBS case in which petitioner’s onset was more than two months after
her influenza vaccination. Petitioners’ counsel in the instant action stated during the status
conference that he had forwarded respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report to petitioners and to an expert,
Dr. Albert Cook, a neurologist, for review.
On September 1, 2017, petitioners filed a Motion for Decision Dismissing Petition,
stating that they will be unable to prove they are entitled to compensation, and that to proceed
any further would waste the resources of the court, respondent, and the Vaccine Program. Mot.
at ¶¶ 1, 2. Petitioners state they intend to elect to file a civil action once judgment on the
dismissal is entered. Id. at ¶ 5.
The undersigned GRANTS petitioners’ Motion for Decision Dismissing Petition, and
DISMISSES the petition.
DISCUSSION
To satisfy their burden of proving causation in fact, petitioners must prove by
preponderant evidence: “(1) a medical theory causally connecting the vaccination and the injury;
(2) a logical sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason for the
injury; and (3) a showing of a proximate temporal relationship between vaccination and injury.”
Althen v. Sec’y of HHS, 418 F.3d 1274, 1278 (Fed. Cir. 2005). In Althen, the Federal Circuit
quoted its opinion in Grant v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 956 F.2d 1144, 1148
(Fed. Cir. 1992):
A persuasive medical theory is demonstrated by “proof of a logical
sequence of cause of and effect showing that the vaccination was
the reason for the injury [,]” the logical sequence being supported
by a “reputable medical or scientific explanation[,]” i.e., “evidence
in the form of scientific studies or expert medical testimony[.]”
418 F.3d at 1278.
Without more, “evidence showing an absence of other causes does not meet petitioner’s
affirmative duty to show actual or legal causation.” Grant, 956 F.2d at 1149. Mere temporal
association is not sufficient to prove causation in fact. Id. at 1148.
Petitioners must show not only that but for her Tdap and Menactra vaccinations, M.R.
would not have had GBS, but also that Tdap and Menactra vaccines were substantial factors in
causing M.R.’s GBS. Shyface v. Sec’y of HHS, 165 F.3d 1344, 1352 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
The Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1), prohibits the undersigned from ruling in
2

Case 1:17-vv-00017-UNJ Document 33 Filed 09/26/17 Page 3 of 3
petitioners’ favor based solely on their allegations unsupported by medical records or medical
opinion. M.R.’s medical records do not support causation. Petitioners have not filed an expert
medical report to satisfy the requirements of proving causation in fact. Instead, petitioners move
for a dismissal of their petition.
The undersigned GRANTS petitioners’ motion and DISMISSES this petition for
petitioners’ failure to make a prima facie case of causation in fact.
CONCLUSION
The petition is DISMISSED. In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to
RCFC Appendix B, the Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: September 26, 2017 /s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
3