Samuel Webb v. HHS - Influenza, Bell's palsy (2018)

Samuel Webb filed a petition alleging that the flu vaccine he received on November 20, 2012, caused him to develop Bell's palsy. Initially, he claimed left-sided facial paralysis.

However, medical records indicated that his symptoms began in September 2012, prior to the vaccination. Webb amended his petition to claim an anaphylactic reaction and other neurological conditions, but these claims were also not supported by medical evidence.

The court found that the medical records, particularly a November 30, 2012 entry, were the most reliable evidence, indicating the onset of Bell's palsy predated the vaccination. Webb's attempts to explain away the medical records as errors were unpersuasive.

The court also noted that Webb had a history of right-sided Bell's palsy prior to the vaccination in question. Ultimately, the court determined that Webb failed to meet his burden of proving causation by a preponderance of the evidence.

His petition was dismissed.