{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-7","petitioner_identifier":"I.J.","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":34.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"Tdap","vaccination_date":"2013-07-22","condition_raw":"transverse myelitis","condition_category":"TM","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":2078709.51,"decision_date":"2026-01-05","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal42","extracted_at":"2026-05-05 00:15:43","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":17,"theory_of_causation":"Tdap vaccine on July 22, 2013, age 34, followed by transverse myelitis about 17 days later. COMPENSATED after initial denial, Court of Federal Claims remand, entitlement on remand, and damages litigation. Petitioner relied on Dr. Scott Zamvil and molecular mimicry/biologic plausibility evidence; the reviewing court found legal and factual errors in the initial denial. On remand, Chief Special Master Corcoran found petitioner met Althen and later awarded damages including pain and suffering, lost earnings, life-care components, and Medicaid lien satisfaction. Damages decision January 5, 2026.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2016-07-21","case_summary":"I.J., a 34-year-old male, filed a petition on July 21, 2016, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He alleged that he developed transverse myelitis (TM) as a result of a Tetanus Diphtheria acellular-Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine he received on July 22, 2013. Following an entitlement hearing, the Special Master initially denied the claim, finding that while I.J. likely suffered from TM, there was insufficient evidence that the Tdap vaccine could cause TM or did so in his case. The Court of Federal Claims vacated this decision and remanded the case, finding the Special Master had misapplied legal standards and made arbitrary and capricious factual determinations regarding the Baxter study and the evidence of inflammation. Upon remand, the Special Master found that I.J. had established a plausible \"can cause\" theory for TM following Tdap vaccination, consistent with the Court's guidance on the \"biological plausibility\" standard. The Special Master also found that the \"did cause\" prong was met, citing evidence of inflammation and treaters' consideration of vaccines as a potential cause, despite some inaccuracies in their records. Consequently, entitlement was granted. A subsequent damages decision on January 5, 2026, awarded I.J. a total of $2,078,709.51. This included a lump sum payment of $1,668,311.51 for life care expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, a $639,898.43 payment to satisfy a Medicaid lien, and an amount to purchase an annuity for future life care expenses. The award also included $1,190,602.00 for lost earnings and $250,000.00 for pain and suffering.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Robert J. Krakow","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Office of Robert Krakow, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"New York, NY","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|robert-krakow|","firm_canonical_key":"law-office-of-robert-krakow","package_title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-0","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/26/2019) regarding 70 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (bm) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-10-11","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-00864-1","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/26/2019) regarding 70 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (ypb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-11-15","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-00864-2","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 01/04/2021) regarding 114 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (omg) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-04-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":715802,"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_16-vv-00864/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-3","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"**RE-DOCKETED 132 FOR POSTING TO THE COURT'S WEBSITE.** JUDGE VACCINE REPORTED OPINION re: granting 116 Motion for Review; granting 117 Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages. Signed by Judge Ryan T. Holte. (tb) Service on parties made. Modified on 8/16/2021 to correct date. 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(kav) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-01-31","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-4/pdf","pdf_bytes":320479,"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-00864/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-4"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-5","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/20/2025) regarding 244 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (mva) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-04-15","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-00864-6","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/28/2024) regarding 225 Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (mva) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-01-05","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-6/pdf","pdf_bytes":433057,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'findings of fact'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-6"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00864-7","title":"J. v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/05/2024) regarding 238 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. 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