{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-2","petitioner_identifier":"B.F.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":0.75,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2014-03-12","condition_raw":"complex febrile seizures and epilepsy","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2020-01-14","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:40:39.528695+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":5,"dose_number":3,"time_to_onset_days":3,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Andrea Fuller, on behalf of minor B.F., alleged that a DTaP vaccine administered on March 12, 2014, caused complex febrile seizures and epilepsy, and that an MMR vaccine on September 18, 2014, aggravated the condition. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, opined that the DTaP vaccine triggered the initial seizure via pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and that this seizure led to epilepsy ('seizures beget seizures'). He also argued the MMR vaccine aggravated the condition. Respondent's experts, Dr. Gregory Holmes and Dr. Hayley Gans, contended that B.F.'s RSV infection was the more likely cause of the initial seizure, and that vaccines were not linked to epilepsy or aggravation. The Special Master, Nora Beth Dorsey, found that the DTaP vaccine was a substantial factor in causing B.F.'s complex febrile seizures and epilepsy, satisfying the Althen prongs. The first seizure on March 15, 2014 (three days post-vaccination) was deemed complex and contributing to epilepsy. Entitlement was granted. Petitioner's counsel was Curtis R. Webb; respondent's counsel was Adriana R. Teitel. Decision Date: January 14, 2020.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2015-12-04","case_summary":"On December 4, 2015, Andrea Fuller, on behalf of her minor child B.F., filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Petitioner alleged that a DTaP vaccine administered on March 12, 2014, caused B.F. to suffer complex febrile seizures and develop epilepsy. Petitioner further alleged that an MMR vaccine received on September 18, 2014, significantly aggravated B.F.'s condition. B.F. was approximately nine months old at the time of the first vaccination. The respondent argued against compensation, stating the case was not appropriate under the Act. The petitioner presented expert testimony from Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, who opined that the DTaP vaccine triggered B.F.'s initial seizure through pro-inflammatory cytokine release and that the seizure itself contributed to the development of epilepsy, following the principle that 'seizures beget seizures.' Dr. Kinsbourne also argued the MMR vaccine aggravated the condition. The respondent presented expert testimony from Dr. Gregory Holmes and Dr. Hayley Gans, who argued that B.F.'s RSV infection was the more likely cause of the initial seizure and that there was no evidence linking the vaccines to epilepsy or aggravation. The Special Master, Nora Beth Dorsey, found that the petitioner provided preponderant evidence that the DTaP vaccine administered on March 12, 2014, was a substantial factor in causing B.F.'s complex febrile seizures and epilepsy, satisfying the Althen prongs for causation. The Special Master determined that B.F.'s first seizure on March 15, 2014, three days after vaccination, was a complex febrile seizure, and that this seizure contributed to the development of epilepsy. Entitlement to compensation was granted, with damages to be determined in a separate order. Petitioner was represented by Curtis R. Webb, and respondent was represented by Adriana R. Teitel.","is_minor_inferred":null,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Curtis R. Webb","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Curtis R. Webb, Attorney at Law","petitioner_attorney_location":"Twin Falls, ID","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|curtis-webb|","firm_canonical_key":"curtis-r-webb","package_title":"FULLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-0","title":"FULLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 07/05/2016) regarding 23 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (tlf) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-07-26","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-01470-1","title":"FULLER v. 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(mca) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-01-14","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":428623,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-3","title":"FULLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 1/29/2024) regarding 252 DECISION Proffer. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (kis) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-02-23","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-3/pdf","pdf_bytes":453710,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision proffer'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-3"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01470-4","title":"FULLER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/29/2025) regarding 260 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-05-20","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}