Hannah Diedrich v. HHS - HPV, generalized nausea, dizziness, severe weakness, pain, heart palpitations, and bouts of extreme weight loss, depression, anxiety, fatigue, malar rash, extreme weight loss, and mitral valve prolapse, diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (2018)

Hannah Diedrich filed a petition on July 14, 2016, seeking compensation for injuries she alleged were caused by the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal vaccines received on July 18, 2013. She claimed the vaccines caused generalized nausea, dizziness, severe weakness, pain, heart palpitations, extreme weight loss, depression, anxiety, fatigue, a malar rash, mitral valve prolapse, and ultimately a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in February/March 2016.

The petition was filed approximately two years and eleven months after vaccination. Petitioner filed her medical records in March 2017.

Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report contesting the claims due to scant medical records and questioning the reliability of Petitioner's expert. The Special Master noted a year-long gap in medical records following vaccination and ordered Petitioner to explain these gaps and provide additional records.

Petitioner repeatedly sought extensions and failed to meet deadlines. Ultimately, the Special Master dismissed the case for insufficient proof and failure to prosecute, finding no evidence of a Table injury and insufficient evidence to establish causation for an off-Table injury.

The Court of Federal Claims affirmed the dismissal, agreeing that Petitioner failed to provide adequate evidence to support her claims and abused her discretion by failing to prosecute the case.