{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-2","petitioner_identifier":"Julian Henley","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":67.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"hepatitis B","vaccination_date":"2015-04-03","condition_raw":"pemphigus vulgaris","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":3846702,"decision_date":"2025-04-23","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal44","extracted_at":"2026-05-05 00:32:14","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":3,"time_to_onset_days":30,"theory_of_causation":"Third hepatitis B vaccine on April 3, 2015, age 67, followed within weeks by pemphigus vulgaris symptoms including bleeding gums, skin lesions, and eye irritation. COMPENSATED. Petitioner Dr. Julian Henley relied on Dr. Norris and Dr. Vera Byers, arguing immune-mediated mechanisms including epitope spreading, bystander activation, and challenge-rechallenge across the hepatitis B series. Respondent's Dr. Levinson and Dr. Simpson disputed vaccine causation and raised alternatives including lisinopril/dental trauma. Special Master Roth granted entitlement April 25, 2024. Damages proffer filed April 23, 2025 awarded $3,846,702 ($250,000 pain and suffering + $3,596,702 lost wages).","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2016-04-22","case_summary":"Dr. Julian Henley, a 67-year-old physician, filed a petition alleging that his hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination caused him to develop pemphigus vulgaris (PV). He received three doses of the HBV vaccine, with the third dose administered on April 3, 2015. Dr. Henley experienced symptoms suggestive of PV, including bleeding gums, skin lesions, and eye irritation, within weeks of the third vaccination. Biopsies and laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of PV. The case proceeded as an off-Table claim, meaning Dr. Henley had to prove causation. Petitioner's experts, Drs. Norris and Byers, argued that the HBV vaccine triggered his PV through immune-mediated processes like epitope spreading and bystander activation, citing case reports and studies linking vaccines to autoimmune diseases. They also presented a challenge-rechallenge theory, suggesting that symptoms appeared or worsened after each HBV vaccine dose. Respondent's experts, Drs. Levinson and Simpson, contended that there was no reliable evidence linking the HBV vaccine to PV and pointed to alternative potential causes like the medication lisinopril or dental trauma. The Special Master found that Dr. Henley provided preponderant evidence establishing a reputable medical theory (Prong I) and a logical sequence of cause and effect, particularly through the challenge-rechallenge pattern observed after the second and third vaccinations (Prong II). The Special Master also found a proximate temporal relationship between the vaccinations and the onset of symptoms (Prong III), citing literature suggesting PV can manifest within weeks to months after vaccination. The court rejected respondent's alternative causes, finding no evidence that lisinopril or dental trauma were contemporaneous triggers. Consequently, Dr. Henley was found entitled to compensation, with a separate damages order to follow.\n\nThe staged proffer shows that damages were later resolved. In a decision filed April 23, 2025, Special Master Roth awarded Dr. Henley $3,846,702.00, consisting of $250,000.00 for pain and suffering and $3,596,702.00 for lost wages.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Mindy Michaels Roth","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Richard Gage","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Richard Gage, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Cheyenne, WY","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|richard-gage|","firm_canonical_key":"richard-gage","package_title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-0","title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 3/9/2017) regarding 32 Order. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (km) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-07-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"no decision/ruling/opinion signal in docketText","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-1","title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/5/2022) regarding 156 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorneys' Fees. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-10-31","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-2","title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC RULING (Originally filed: 04/25/2024) regarding 178 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-05-20","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":677758,"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_16-vv-00499/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-3","title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/23/2025) regarding 213 DECISION - Proffer. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-05-20","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-3/pdf","pdf_bytes":295185,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword ' proffer'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-3"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00499-4","title":"HENLEY v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/20/2025) regarding 221 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (dkj) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-07-21","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}