{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-0","petitioner_identifier":"Henry Simmons","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":null,"vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2010-10-26","condition_raw":"neurological demyelinating injury","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2016-10-12","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:41:03.179935+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Henry Simmons alleged that an influenza vaccination on October 26, 2010, caused a neurological demyelinating injury. Petitioner's counsel was unable to contact him after the petition was filed on October 22, 2013. Following an Order to Show Cause, counsel reported on April 29, 2014, that contact remained impossible since October 23, 2013. The petition was dismissed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman on April 30, 2014, for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. The decision noted the lack of medical records or expert opinion to substantiate the claim of vaccine causation, and that no \"Table Injury\" was identified in the record. Petitioner failed to prove causation by a preponderance of the evidence. No award was made. Attorneys for Petitioner were Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C. (Joseph Pepper). Attorney for Respondent was the U.S. Department of Justice (Michael Milmoe).","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2013-10-22","case_summary":"Henry Simmons filed a petition on October 22, 2013, alleging that an influenza vaccination he received on October 26, 2010, caused a neurological demyelinating injury. Petitioner's counsel, Joseph Pepper of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C., was unable to contact Mr. Simmons following the petition's filing. During a status conference on March 25, 2014, Petitioner's counsel reported this inability to reach his client. Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman issued an Order to Show Cause, requiring Petitioner's counsel to file a status report by April 29, 2014, indicating whether Petitioner wished to proceed or if contact had been established. Petitioner's counsel filed the status report on April 29, 2014, confirming that despite numerous attempts, he had been unsuccessful in contacting Petitioner since October 23, 2013. Counsel also noted that he had advised Petitioner that a dismissal would result in a judgment against him, ending all rights in the Vaccine Program. Special Master Hamilton-Fieldman dismissed the petition on April 30, 2014, for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. The decision noted that it is the Petitioner's duty to respond to court orders, and failure to do so is considered noncompliance. The Special Master also stated that Petitioner must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the injury was caused by the vaccine, and that a finding cannot be based on claims alone, unsubstantiated by medical records or opinion. The record did not contain evidence of a \"Table Injury\" or any medical opinion or persuasive evidence indicating that Petitioner's neurological demyelinating injury was vaccine-caused. Therefore, Petitioner failed to demonstrate actual causation. No compensation was awarded.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Lisa D. Hamilton-Fieldman","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Henry Simmons","petitioner_attorney_name":"Joseph Pepper; Ronald C. Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:45:55","attorney_canonical_keys":"|joseph-pepper|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-0","title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/30/2014) regarding 10 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (dlb) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2014-05-22","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":324007,"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_13-vv-00825/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-1","title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"*REVERSED PURSUANT TO ORDER OF OCTOBER 26, 2016.** PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/14/2016) regarding 21 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Lisa Hamilton-Fieldman. (pn) Copy to parties. Modified on 10/26/2016 to indicate decision has been reversed. (dls).","date_issued":"2016-05-05","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-2","title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"JUDGE VACCINE REPORTED OPINION 21 DECISION of Special Master - Fees: Granting the Government's Motion for Review (ECF 23)and Reversing the Award of Attorneys' Fees and Costs. Signed by Senior Judge Nancy B. Firestone. (dpk) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-10-12","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-cl-extra-4089142","title":"Simmons v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 4311881","date_issued":"2016-10-12","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Simmons v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00825-cl-extra-4089142"}]}