Michelle Handrow v. HHS - DTaP, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) (2016)

Michelle Handrow filed a petition on November 13, 2015, alleging that she suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) as a result of DTap and influenza vaccinations she received on November 15, 2012. After investigating the facts and science supporting her case, Ms.

Handrow filed a motion to dismiss on July 1, 2016, stating she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation. She understood that this dismissal would terminate her rights in the Vaccine Program and elected to reject the program judgment to preserve her right to file a civil action.

The court noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table Injury or that the vaccine actually caused the injury. The record did not contain evidence of a Table Injury, nor did Ms.

Handrow allege one. Furthermore, the record lacked persuasive evidence that her CRPS was caused by the vaccinations.

The court also found that the medical records were insufficient to establish entitlement and that no expert medical opinion had been filed. Consequently, the case was dismissed for insufficient proof.