VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00513 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00513 Petitioner: Amanda Jo Kilgus Filed: 2018-04-09 Decided: 2020-07-01 Vaccine: Td Vaccination date: 2016-09-10 Condition: anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock and brachial neuritis Outcome: dismissed Award amount USD: AI-assisted case summary: Amanda Kilgus filed a petition alleging that she suffered anaphylaxis and brachial neuritis as a result of a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine she received on September 10, 2016. She filed her petition with the Court of Federal Claims on April 9, 2018. After investigating the facts and science supporting her case, Ms. Kilgus filed an unopposed motion to dismiss her petition, conceding that she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. She stated that proceeding further would be unreasonable and an inefficient use of resources. The respondent did not object to the dismissal. The court noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table Injury or that the vaccine caused the injury. The record did not contain evidence of a Table Injury, nor persuasive evidence that the vaccine caused her alleged injuries. The court further noted that claims must be supported by medical records or a competent physician's opinion, neither of which were sufficiently provided in this case. Therefore, the case was dismissed for insufficient proof. Theory of causation field: unclear Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00513-0 Date issued/filed: 2020-08-07 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/01/2020) regarding 30 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (arm) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:18-vv-00513-UNJ Document 32 Filed 08/07/20 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS Filed: July 1, 2020 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AMANDA JO KILGUS, * No. 18-513V * Petitioner, * Special Master Sanders * v. * * SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Dismissal; Insufficient Proof; AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Tetanus and Diptheria (“Td”) Vaccine; * Anaphylaxis; Brachial Neuritis. Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Nathan P. Powell, Webb, Tanner & Powell, P.C., Lawrenceville, GA, for Petitioner Traci R. Patton, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent DISMISSAL1 On April 9, 2018, Amanda Kilgus (“Petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program2 (“Vaccine Program” or “Program”). 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 to 34 (2012). Petitioner alleges that she suffered “injuries, including anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock and brachial neuritis,” as a result of a tetanus and diphtheria (“Td”) vaccine that she received on September 10, 2016. Pet. at 1, ECF No. 1. The information in the record, however, does not show entitlement to an award under the Program. On September 25, 2019, Petitioner filed an unopposed motion for a decision dismissing her petition. ECF No. 29. In her motion, Petitioner conceded that “[a]n investigation of the facts and science supporting her case has demonstrated to petitioner that she will be unable to prove that she is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” Id. at 1. She continued, “to proceed further would be unreasonable and would not provide an efficient use of the resources of the Court, the [R]espondent and the Vaccine Program.” Id. Respondent had no objection to Petitioner’s motion. Id. at 1-2. 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). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the Internet. 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 I agree 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 (“the Vaccine Act” or “Act”). 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 1:18-vv-00513-UNJ Document 32 Filed 08/07/20 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 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 Petitioner’s alleged injury was caused by the flu 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.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Herbrina D. Sanders Herbrina D. Sanders Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of a notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2