United States Court of Federal Claims, 2024

Hargens v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

United States Court of Federal Claims · Decided January 31, 2024 · Brian H. Corcoran

Opinion

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-672V UNPUBLISHED

FRANCINE HARGENS, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, v. Filed: January 4, 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 May 5, 2023, Francine Hargens 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 13, 2021. ECF No. 1.

On January 3, 2024, Petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing the petition. ECF No. 9. 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 statutorily required supporting evidence. ECF No. 5. Petitioner did not subsequently file any supporting documentation.

On January 3, 2024, Petitioner filed a motion for a decision dismissing the petition stating that “[a]n investigation of the facts and science supporting her case has

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). demonstrated to petitioner that she will be unable to prove that she is entitled to compensation in the Vaccine Program.” ECF No. 9 at 1.

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 his shoulder injury was caused by the influenza vaccination.

Petitioner has not filed any supporting documentation as required by the Vaccine Act, § 11(c). Moreover, Petitioner admitted that she will not be able to establish 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.