In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 20-1782V
UNPUBLISHED
COURTNEY and CHRISTOPHER Chief Special Master Corcoran
COUNTS, on behalf of their minor
child, M.C., Filed: August 23, 2021
Petitioners, Withdrawal of petition; Order
v. concluding proceedings
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
ORDER CONCLUDING PROCEEDINGS1
On December 7, 2020, Courtney and Christopher Counts filed a petition for
compensation on behalf of their minor child, M.C., under the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa—10 through 34.2 Petitioners alleged that
M.C. suffered injuries after receiving a human papillomavirus vaccination on June 21,
2017. ECF no. 1.
Because a decision had not been issued within the time specified in Vaccine
Rule 10(b), a notice issued advising that “that the petitioner may withdraw the petition
under section 300aa—21(b) of this title or the petitioner may choose under section
300aa—21(b) of this title to have the petition remain before the special master.” 42
U.S.C. § 300aa—12(g). On August 20, 2021, Petitioners timely filed a notice to
withdraw their petition pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa—21(b).
In light of Petitioners’ election to withdraw the petition pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
300aa—21(b) (promulgated as Vaccine Rule 10(d)), Petitioners’ request to withdraw the
petition is GRANTED. Accordingly, this Order hereby notifies the Clerk of Court that
proceedings “on the merits” of this petition are now concluded, but no judgment
“on the merits” should be entered by the Clerk’s Office.
1 Although I have not formally designated this Order for publication, I am required to post it on the United
States Court of Federal Claims' website because it contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this
case, 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 Order 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.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
2