{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882-1","petitioner_identifier":"J.B.A.","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":null,"vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2012-08-22","condition_raw":"seizures, developmental delay, and encephalopathy","condition_category":"encephalitis_encephalopathy","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2017-12-12","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:48:09.623326+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":null,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Jaclyn Rene Bales, on behalf of minor J.B.A., alleged that a DTaP vaccination on August 22, 2012, caused seizures, developmental delay, and encephalopathy. J.B.A. has an SCN1A gene mutation, associated with neurological conditions. Petitioner argued the vaccine, not the gene mutation (which the asymptomatic mother also carries), caused the injury. The public decision does not specify a Table Injury or provide expert reports. Petitioner, after retaining new counsel, moved to dismiss, stating she could not prove a causal link. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen dismissed the case for insufficient proof, agreeing petitioner could not establish entitlement. Petitioner intended to reject the judgment and file a civil action. Attorneys for petitioner were Renee J. Gentry and for respondent was Camille M. Collett. Decision date was December 12, 2017.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2015-11-15","case_summary":"Jaclyn Rene Bales, on behalf of her minor child J.B.A., filed a petition on November 15, 2017, alleging that a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccination administered on August 22, 2012, caused J.B.A. to suffer from seizures, developmental delay, and encephalopathy. The respondent was the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The public decision does not describe the specific symptoms, onset, medical records, or treatments related to J.B.A.'s condition. J.B.A. has an SCN1A gene mutation, which is associated with neurological conditions like Dravet Syndrome. The petitioner argued that the DTaP vaccination, rather than the gene mutation, caused J.B.A.'s condition, noting that the mother also carries the gene but is asymptomatic. The petitioner initially sought compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. However, after retaining new counsel and being granted additional time to obtain expert reports from a geneticist and a neurologist or immunologist, the petitioner filed a motion to dismiss her claim on November 14, 2017. The petitioner stated that an investigation of the facts and science demonstrated she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation. The respondent reserved the right to challenge the timeliness of the claim and oppose any application for attorneys' fees and costs but did not oppose the motion for dismissal. The petitioner intended to reject any Vaccine Program judgment and file a civil action. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen agreed that the petitioner would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation due to insufficient proof and dismissed the case. The public decision does not name the petitioner's counsel or the respondent's counsel. No award amount was granted as the case was dismissed.","is_minor_inferred":1,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Renee J. Gentry","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Vaccine Injury Clinic, George Washington University Law School","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|renee-gentry|","firm_canonical_key":"vaccine-injury-clinic-george-washington-university-law-school","package_title":"BALES et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00882-0","title":"BALES et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/26/2017) regarding 35 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. 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SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 5/22/2018) regarding 56 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (kb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2018-06-18","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}