Angel Tajah Drakeford v. HHS - Tdap, headaches and left leg weakness (2017)

Angel Tajah Drakeford filed a petition alleging that she developed headaches and left leg weakness as a result of receiving the HPV, Tdap, and meningococcal vaccinations on September 16, 2013. The respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending against compensation.

The court issued a scheduling order requiring the petitioner to file additional medical records and an expert report compliant with Althen v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs. by May 30, 2017.

While the medical records were filed, the petitioner failed to submit an expert report or request an extension. The court granted an additional seven days, warning that failure to comply would result in dismissal.

The petitioner again failed to meet the deadline or communicate with the court. The court noted that the petitioner had not presented evidence of a Table Injury nor persuasive evidence that her injury was caused by the vaccinations.

Due to the petitioner's failure to follow court orders and prosecute her case, the petition was dismissed with prejudice for insufficient proof and failure to prosecute.