Villalobos v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
*********************
JOANNA VILLALOBOS, on behalf *
of A.D., a minor, *
* No. 20-96V
Petitioner, * Special Master Christian J. Moran
*
v. *
* Filed: September 2, 2020
SECRETARY OF HEALTH *
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Decision dismissing case;
* failure to prosecute; statute of
Respondent. * limitations
*********************
Christopher L. Phillippe, Law Offices of Phillippe & Associates, Brownsville, TX,
for petitioner;
Jennifer L. Reynaud, United States Dep’t of Justice, Washington, D.C., for
respondent.
UNPUBLISHED DECISION DENYING COMPENSATION 1
Joanna Villalobos filed a petition on behalf of A.D., a minor, under the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, 42 U.S.C. §300a-10 through 34 (2012) on
January 28, 2020. The petition alleged that A.D. developed SIRVA as a result of
the flu vaccine he received on October 13, 2014.
I. Procedural History
The procedural history of this case can be found in the order to show cause,
filed July 20, 2020. In that order, Ms. Villalobos was instructed to show cause as
1
The E-Government, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to
file a motion proposing redaction of medical information or other information described in 42
U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4). Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the
document posted on the website.
to why this case should not be dismissed by August 24, 2020. To date, Ms.
Villalobos has not responded.
II. Analysis
When a petitioner (or plaintiff) fails to comply with Court orders to
prosecute her case, the Court may dismiss the case. Sapharas v. Sec’y of Health &
Human Servs., 35 Fed. Cl. 503 (1996); Tsekouras v. Sec’y of Health & Human
Servs., 26 Cl. Ct. 439 (1992), aff’d, 991 F.2d 810 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (table); Vaccine
Rule 21(c); see also Claude E. Atkins Enters., Inc. v. United States, 889 F.2d 1180,
1183 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (affirming dismissal of case for failure to prosecute for
counsel’s failure to submit pre-trial memorandum); Adkins v. United States, 816
F.2d 1580, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (affirming dismissal of case for failure of party to
respond to discovery requests).
As explained in the decision issued by the undersigned in Machuca v.
Secretary of Health & Human Services, No. 20-18V, 2020 WL 4670877 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. July 17, 2020), the statute of limitations bars this action. A.D. received
the allegedly causal vaccine in October 2014. The statute of limitations requires
the filing of the petition within 36 months. 42 U.S.C. § 300aa–16(a)(2). Although
the order to show cause permitted petitioner in this case to explain why her case
should continue, she has not offered any justification.
Thus, this case is dismissed for failure to prosecute and because the
claim is barred by the statute of limitations. The Clerk shall enter judgment
accordingly. See Vaccine Rule 21(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Christian J. Moran
Christian J. Moran
Special Master
2