{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568-0","petitioner_identifier":"A.W.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":0.167,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2013-01-02","condition_raw":"food allergies and atopic dermatitis (eczema)","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2018-03-05","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:41:00.984517+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":1,"time_to_onset_days":7,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner alleged that the DTaP vaccine administered on January 2, 2013, to A.W., then approximately two months old, caused food allergies and eczema. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Vera Byers, theorized that trace amounts of beef residue in the DTaP vaccine, combined with a cytokine response, led to sensitization and a beef allergy, which then caused eczema. Respondent's expert, Dr. Andrew MacGinnitie, countered that Dr. Byers was not qualified to opine on food allergies and eczema, citing his own board certification in immunology and allergy, active practice, and academic position. Dr. MacGinnitie presented epidemiological studies showing no link between vaccines and food allergies or eczema, and noted that treating physicians did not link the conditions to vaccination. The Special Master found Dr. Byers's theory unsupported, inconsistent, and introduced late, noting her initial theory about egg protein was disproven and her later theory about beef residue lacked scientific backing and was not disclosed in her reports. The Special Master also found the timing of symptom onset inconsistent with the proposed mechanism. The petition was denied for failure to establish causation under the Althen prongs. Attorneys for petitioner were Paul R. Brazil and Muller Brazil, LLP. Attorney for respondent was Camille M. Collett. Special Master was Christian J. Moran. Decision date was March 5, 2018.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-02-01","case_summary":"A.W., a minor, by and through her parent and natural guardian, Vanessa Wood, filed a petition on February 1, 2018, alleging that a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccination caused the minor's food allergies and atopic dermatitis (eczema). A.W. was born in October 2012 and received her first DTaP vaccine on or around January 2, 2013, at approximately two months old. Ms. Wood testified that a rash began about a week after vaccination, which worsened and was diagnosed as eczema. Subsequent allergy testing indicated allergies to cow's milk and eggs. The petitioner's expert, Dr. Vera Byers, theorized that trace amounts of beef residue in the DTaP vaccine, combined with a cytokine response, led to sensitization and an allergy to beef, which in turn caused the eczema. Respondent's expert, Dr. Andrew MacGinnitie, presented evidence contradicting this theory, including studies showing no link between vaccines and food allergies or eczema, and noted that A.W.'s treating doctors did not link the conditions to vaccination. Special Master Christian J. Moran issued a bench decision denying compensation, later formalized in a published decision on March 5, 2018. The Special Master found that Dr. Byers was relatively unqualified compared to Dr. MacGinnitie, who was board-certified in immunology and allergy, actively treated patients with these conditions, and held an associate professorship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Byers had stopped regular practice in 2002 and primarily saw patients in legal contexts. The court found Dr. Byers's testimony to be unqualified, her theories unsupported, inconsistent, and introduced late in the proceedings. Specifically, her initial theory about egg protein in the vaccine was disproven, and her later theory about beef residue lacked scientific backing and was not disclosed in her reports. The court also noted that the timing of symptom onset did not align with the proposed causal mechanism. The petition was denied, as the petitioner failed to establish causation on a more-likely-than-not basis under the Althen prongs.","is_minor_inferred":null,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Paul R. Brazil","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Muller Brazil, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Dresher, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|paul-brazil|","firm_canonical_key":"muller-brazil","package_title":"WOOD et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568-0","title":"WOOD et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 2/1/18) regarding 84 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (MRG) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2018-03-05","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":224480,"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-01568/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01568-1","title":"WOOD et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 1/11/2019) regarding 95 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (MRG) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-02-11","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}