{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255-1","petitioner_identifier":"Louai Salim","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":null,"vaccination_date":"2012-11-01","condition_raw":"immune system dysfunction","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2016-06-23","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:39:59.132470+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":null,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"unclear","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2015-10-26","case_summary":"Louai Salim, an adult, filed a petition on October 26, 2015, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He alleged that he experienced medical problems related to immune system dysfunction as a result of vaccinations he received in November 2012 in Kuwait. Mr. Salim was working as a translator employed by an independent contractor for the U.S. Army at the time of his vaccinations. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, moved to dismiss the case, arguing that Mr. Salim, who received vaccinations outside the United States, was not a member of the Armed Forces or an employee of the United States, and therefore could not bring a claim under the program. Mr. Salim initially argued that he did constitute an employee under the applicable law. After reviewing employment contracts, Mr. Salim determined that he was unlikely to succeed in proving his federal employee status and filed an unopposed motion to dismiss his petition. The Special Master reviewed the contracts and agreed that they did not support Mr. Salim's claim of federal employee status. The decision noted that the underlying legal question regarding the definition of 'employee' was legitimately disputed. The Special Master found no evidence of a \"Table Injury\" and insufficient evidence to establish that Mr. Salim could advance his claim given the location of his vaccination and his employment status. Consequently, the case was dismissed. Mr. Salim had previously been awarded interim fees and costs.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Louai Salim","petitioner_attorney_name":"Andrew Donald Downing","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Van Cott & Talamante, PLLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Phoenix, AZ","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:45:58","attorney_canonical_keys":"|andrew-downing|","firm_canonical_key":"van-cott-and-talamante","package_title":"SALIM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255-0","title":"SALIM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/20/2016) Regarding 25 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees (Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran). (ay) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-08-15","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255-1","title":"SALIM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/23/2016) Regarding 26 DECISION of Special Master (Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran). (ay) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-08-25","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":208666,"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_15-vv-01255/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01255-1"}]}