Doe v. Sec'y of HHS
At the age of 18, in preparation for college, Jane Doe/74 (name redacted for privacy issues) received tetanus/diphtheria (Td) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. Three weeks later, she developed numbness and tingling in her fingers. During the next three weeks, these symptoms spread to her upper and lower limbs. Her neurologist diagnosed transverse myelitis (TM) "secondary to vaccination." Jane was later diagnosed with chronic multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that frequently follows TM, as both are central nervous system disorders. Jane filed a petition in the Vaccine Program alleging the vaccines caused her TM and MS. The Secretary of HHS denied that these vaccines are capable of causing either condition, After a hearing at which both parties presented expert witness testimony, a special master ruled (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(19 pages  / 177 kb )

Zeller v. Sec'y of HHS
Ben Zeller was born with a non-progressive brain injury and a small head. He also had nystagmus (involuntary eye movements) that improved over time. Although developmentally delayed in his gross motor skills, Ben was in good health when, at the age of 12 months, he received a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Ten (10) days later, he suffered a several-minute, febrile seizure, followed by...(Read the Full story by clicking here)
(28 pages  / 224 kb )

Sucher v. Sec'y of HHS; No. 07-0058v (3/15/10)
Evelyn was born healthy. She had gastroenteritis one (1) week before her 6-months shots on February 11, 2004 when she received her scheduled DTaP vaccine. Early the next morning, she had a fever and was given Tylenol. Shortly thereafter, she had a seizure that persisted for 5 minutes. She was taken to the emergency room where she had a second seizure that persisted for several minutes. She was diagnosed with complex seizures. Since that time, Evelyn has . . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(54 pages  / 232 kb )

Doe v. Sec'y of HHS; No. 99-610v (12/15/09)
At 13 years of age, Jane Doe/52 (name redacted for issues of privacy) had an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), from which she recovered. At 29 years of age, she received a hepatitis b (Hep B) vaccine. Within 3 days, she had flu like symptoms, including lower back pain, sore throat, lymph node swelling, musculoskeletal pain, and extreme exhaustion. Then, her hair began to fall out. She was diagnosed with hepatitis. She was subsequently diagnosed with . . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(29 pages  / 80 kb )

Garcia v. Sec'y of HHS; No. 05-0720v (11/12/08)
On July 23, 2003, at the age of 49, Roberto Garcia received a booster tetanus vaccination. The next day, he experienced weakness in his arms and legs. These symptoms became progressively worse. He was admitted to the hospital 2 days after the vaccine when his right arm became paralyzed and he had shortness of breath. In the hospital, he became completely paralyzed and required the insertion of a tube to breathe. He was diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS). He slowly recovered but still has residual problems due to his injury. He filed a petition in the Vaccine Program alleging the tetanus vaccine caused his GBS. At a hearing, the government’s expert testified that . . .(Read the Full story by clicking here)
(18 pages  / 25 kb )

Rotoli, Myers, Torbett, Porter, and Hager vs. the Secretary of Health and Human Services
In the following cases, Rotoli, Myers, Torbett, Porter, and Hager vs. the Secretary of Health and Human Services, five (5) petitioners alleged that the hepatitis B vaccine had caused them to suffer autoimmune hepatitis. After several days of hearing, a special master determined that the petitioners' expert immunologist, who testified on behalf of all five petitioners, was neither credible nor truthful when he. . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(66 pages  / 317 kb )

Dory Zatuchni, Executrix of the Estate of E. Barbara Synder, deceased v. Sec'y of HHS
In 1994, Barbara Snyder filed a claim alleging a rubella vaccine caused her to suffer chronic arthralgia (joint pain) and fibromyalgia. Barbara died on April 28, 2005 before a decision. On May 6, 2005, eight (8) days after Barbara's death, a special master issued. . .(Read the Full story by clicking here)
(34 pages  / 141 kb )
(19 pages  / 1,191 kb )

Capizzano v. Sec'y of HHS
On March 9, 2006, in a clear victory for petitioners in the Vaccine Program, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals issued Capizzano v. Sec'y. The Court held, once again, that petitioners need not present peer-reviewed scientific literature to prevail. It is enough, the Court said, if a petitioner provides a . . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(19 pages  / 54 kb )

Stevens v. Sec'y of HHS; No. 99-594 (2/24/2006)
On February 24, 2006, Special Master Laura Millman ruled that a hepatitis B vaccine caused an adult woman to suffer transverse myelitis (TM), a serious neurological, demyelinating disorder. The evidence in this case was stronger than most, because the petitioner suffered two separate episodes of. . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(45 pages  / 1933 kb )

Althen v. Sec'y of HHS; No. 04-5146v (Federal Circuit - 7/29/05)
In Althen v. Sec'y of HHS, a landmark decision by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court lightened the burden of proof for petitioners in the Vaccine Program. Previously, the courts had described a petitioner's burden as "heavy lifting." However, the Court made clear a person need only show a vaccine was . . . (Read the Full story by clicking here)
(13 pages  / 545 kb )