United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Chesnutt-Kriss v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided June 11, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-368V UNPUBLISHED

APRIL CHESNUTT-KRISS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: May 13, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Jonathan J. Svitak, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Woodridge, IL, for Petitioner.

Heather L. Pearlman, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

DECISION1 On March 14, 2023, April Chesnutt-Kriss filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa—10 through 34,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleged that she suffered a shoulder injury from an influenza vaccine she received on October 26, 2020. ECF No. 1.

On April 25, 2024, Petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing the petition.

ECF No. 14. For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner’s motion is GRANTED, and this case is DISMISSED.

Relevant Procedural History Petitioner did not file any supporting documentation with the petition. The PAR Initial Order required Petitioner to file the statutorily required documents. ECF No. 5.

More than a year after initiating her claim, Petitioner has not yet filed any supporting documentation.

1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material 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).

On April 12, 2024, Petitioner filed a status report stating her intent to file a motion for decision to dismiss her petition. ECF No. 13.

On April 25, 2024, Petitioner filed a motion for decision dismissing the petition stating that an “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.” ECF No. 14 at 1. Petitioner understands that dismissal of her petition would result in a judgment against her and end all her rights in the Vaccine Program. Id. Grounds for Dismissal To receive compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a petitioner must prove either 1) that the vaccinee suffered an “on-Table” injury – i.e., an injury falling within the Vaccine Injury Table – corresponding to one of the listed vaccines within the applicable time frames, or 2) that the vaccinee suffered an injury not listed the Table or outside the applicable time frames, an “off-Table” injury, that was actually caused by a listed vaccine. See §§ 300aa—13(a)(1)(A) and 11(c)(1).

Petitioner alleged an on-Table claim, i.e., that her shoulder injury was caused by the influenza vaccination.

Petitioner has not filed any supporting documentation to establish her vaccine claim. Moreover, in her motion for decision, Petitioner admitted that she would not be able to prove that she is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.

Thus, Petitioner has failed to establish entitlement to compensation in the Vaccine Program. This case is dismissed for insufficient proof. The clerk shall enter judgment accordingly.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master

3 If Petitioner wishes to bring a civil action, he must file a notice of election rejecting the judgment pursuant to § 21(a) “not later than 90 days after the date of the court’s final judgment.”

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.