{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-0","petitioner_identifier":"James Bacher","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":66.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"hepatitis B and influenza","vaccination_date":"2013-09-06","condition_raw":"myasthenia gravis and death","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2024-07-29","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal13","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 04:02:49","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":1,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Hepatitis B vaccines September 6, 2013, October 2, 2013, and March 14, 2014, plus influenza vaccine October 2, 2013, at age 66, allegedly causing myasthenia gravis and death. DISMISSED. Theory: molecular mimicry/cross-reactivity with acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junction. Petitioner experts Drs. Morgan, Napoli, Norton; respondent neurologist Dr. Timothy Vartanian. Evidence included tremor/dizziness/balance/anxiety symptoms, double vision, and June 2014 MG diagnosis by Dr. Nurcan Gursoy. SM Daniel T. Horner found Althen prong one/general causation not proven; no injury-compensation award. Petition September 23, 2016; dismissal July 29, 2024.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2021-02-28","petition_filed_date":"2016-09-23","case_summary":"On September 23, 2016, James Bacher filed a petition alleging that hepatitis B vaccinations and an influenza vaccination caused myasthenia gravis. Mr. Bacher, who was 66 when the vaccination sequence began, received hepatitis B vaccine on September 6, 2013, hepatitis B and influenza vaccines on October 2, 2013, and a third hepatitis B vaccine on March 14, 2014.\n\nThe record described memory problems, tremor, dizziness, balance symptoms, anxiety, and later double vision. Neurologist Nurcan Gursoy diagnosed myasthenia gravis in June 2014. After Mr. Bacher died, Anne Marie Bacher was substituted as legal representative of his estate, and the amended claim alleged that vaccine-caused myasthenia gravis contributed to his death.\n\nPetitioner's experts, including Drs. Morgan, Napoli, and Norton, advanced an off-Table molecular-mimicry theory involving cross-reactivity with acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Respondent's neurologist, Dr. Timothy Vartanian, disputed general causation. Special Master Daniel T. Horner held that the case failed Althen prong one because petitioner had not shown a reliable medical theory connecting the vaccines to myasthenia gravis. The petition was dismissed on July 29, 2024. A later fee award was for attorneys' fees and costs only, not injury compensation.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Michael Andrew London","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Douglas & London, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"New York, NY","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|michael-london|","firm_canonical_key":"douglas-and-london","package_title":"BACHER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-0","title":"BACHER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 7/29/2024) regarding 85 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (sh). Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-08-23","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":424038,"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-01190/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-1","title":"BACHER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/22/2025) regarding 92 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (cd) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-01-16","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-01190-cl-extra-11242023","title":"Bacher v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10775437","date_issued":"2026-01-16","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Bacher v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01190-cl-extra-11242023"}]}