{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-2","petitioner_identifier":"S.W.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":0.33,"age_unit_raw":"years (approximately four months old; exact birth date redacted in staged opinion)","vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2007-11-26","condition_raw":"transverse myelitis","condition_category":"transverse_myelitis","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":160971.12,"decision_date":"2015-12-01","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T02:42:19.525967+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":5,"dose_number":2,"time_to_onset_days":10,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners Rebecca and Randall Whitney alleged that S.W., a minor, received DTaP, Hib, IPV, pneumococcal conjugate, and rotavirus vaccines on November 26, 2007, at approximately four months of age, and subsequently developed transverse myelitis. The alleged injury manifested with symptoms including congestion, bowel changes, and leg weakness starting around December 6, 2007, with hospitalization on December 13, 2007, showing spinal cord inflammation and MRI findings suggestive of immune-mediated disseminated myelitis. Petitioners' expert, Dr. Yuval Shafrir, supported vaccine causation and disputed HHV-6 as the cause. Respondent's experts, including Dr. Max Wiznitzer and Dr. James Oleske, proposed HHV-6 as an alternative trigger. Initially, Special Master Christian J. Moran denied compensation on May 8, 2015, finding a failure to prove a logical sequence of cause and effect. On August 12, 2015, Judge Charles F. Lettow vacated this decision and remanded the case, citing unsupported inferences and mischaracterization of medical records. The parties subsequently resolved the case by stipulation, and on December 1, 2015, Special Master Moran adopted the settlement, awarding $150,000.00 for S.W.'s benefit, $10,971.12 for a Medicaid lien, and an amount for an annuity. Petitioners were represented by Ronald C. Homer, and respondent by Lara A. Englund.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2010-11-22","case_summary":"On November 22, 2010, Rebecca and Randall Whitney filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on behalf of their son, S.W., alleging that vaccines administered on November 26, 2007, at approximately four months of age, caused him to develop transverse myelitis. The vaccines administered were DTaP, Hib, IPV, pneumococcal conjugate, and rotavirus. S.W. had been healthy in his first months of life, though he experienced a mild upper respiratory infection around Thanksgiving 2007, which experts later associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). In early December 2007, S.W. developed congestion and bowel changes, which experts considered early neurologic signs. By December 12, 2007, his legs were weak, and on December 13, 2007, his mother took him to the pediatrician due to his lack of normal movement and screaming when moved. Examination revealed decreased tone in his lower extremities, clonus, and absent reflexes. Hospital testing indicated inflammation in the spinal cord, and MRI findings in the cervical and thoracic spine were interpreted as possible immune-mediated disseminated myelitis. His brain and lumbosacral spine imaging were normal. Treating doctors considered possible infectious triggers, post-vaccination reaction, and autoimmune disease. S.W. received high-dose steroids and was transferred to rehabilitation. His residual problems included paraplegia, need for mobility supports, speech delays, fatigue, and bowel/bladder issues.\n\nSpecial Master Christian J. Moran initially denied compensation on May 8, 2015, finding that while petitioners presented a plausible medical theory and acceptable timing, they failed to prove a logical sequence of cause and effect, giving greater weight to treating record references suggesting HHV-6 as the cause. On review, Judge Charles F. Lettow vacated this decision and remanded the case on August 12, 2015. The court held that the special master had drawn unsupported inferences, discounted records listing vaccination as a possible cause, and over-credited a later report attributing the condition to HHV-6.\n\nFollowing remand, the respondent continued to deny that the vaccines caused S.W.'s transverse myelitis. However, the parties resolved the case by stipulation. On December 1, 2015, Special Master Christian J. Moran adopted the settlement. The award included a lump sum of $150,000.00 for S.W.'s benefit, $10,971.12 to satisfy a State of Michigan Medicaid lien, and an additional amount sufficient to purchase an annuity contract as described in the stipulation. Petitioners were represented by Ronald C. Homer of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C. Respondent was represented by Lara A. Englund of the U.S. Department of Justice.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald C. Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"WHITNEY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-0","title":"WHITNEY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/08/2015) regarding 111 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (tpj) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2015-07-28","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":280826,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-1","title":"WHITNEY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"Docketed for Administrative Purposes VACCINE REISSUED REPORTED OPINION & ORDER, reflecting no redactions from the opinion and order previously entered under seal on July 28, 2015. Signed by Judge Charles F. Lettow. (jt1) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2015-08-12","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":497321,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'opinion'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-2","title":"WHITNEY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/1/2015) regarding 143 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (SP) Copy to parties. (Additional attachment(s) added on 1/5/2016: #1 Stipulation/Proffer) (jt1). Modified on 7/9/2019 to include the attachment(s) in the main document for posting to the courts website (da).","date_issued":"2015-12-16","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":3686698,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809/USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_10-vv-00809-3","title":"WHITNEY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/27/2016) regarding 157 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (SP) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-08-26","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}