Kristin Mehner v. HHS - Hepatitis B, transverse myelitis (2016)

Kristin Mehner filed a petition alleging that the hepatitis B vaccine she received on May 23, 2011, caused her to develop transverse myelitis (TM). She reported experiencing leg, lower back, and stomach numbness and pain shortly after vaccination, leading to a diagnosis of TM by a treating neurologist.

Despite some improvement, she continued to experience weakness and pain. Two years later, another neurologist suggested a myelopathy event, and the original neurologist re-confirmed the TM diagnosis.

The respondent argued that the petitioner failed to establish causation under the Althen criteria, as her expert did not causally link the vaccine to the injury. After a series of procedural steps and a reassignment to a new Special Master, the court issued a decision on February 2, 2016, denying entitlement because the petitioner failed to advance a medical theory linking the vaccine to the injury, demonstrate a logical connection, or establish a proximate temporal relationship.

Subsequently, the petitioner sought attorney's fees and costs, which were awarded in full, totaling $16,344.10, as the claim was deemed to have been brought in good faith and with a reasonable basis.