{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362-0","petitioner_identifier":"Martha-Helene Stapleton","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":38.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"Tdap","vaccination_date":"2014-11-01","condition_raw":"loss of her child","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2018-02-09","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:45:53.189542+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Martha-Helene Stapleton, age 38, received a Tdap vaccine on November 1, 2014, and alleged it caused the stillbirth of her child. The petition was filed on October 19, 2016. Petitioner later filed a motion to dismiss, conceding she could not prove entitlement to compensation. The Special Master's decision, issued February 9, 2018, noted the absence of a \"Table Injury\" and insufficient persuasive evidence that the Tdap vaccine caused the stillbirth. The public decision does not describe the specific mechanism of injury, onset of symptoms, medical records, treating physicians, or expert testimony. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof, with Petitioner's counsel being Diana Stadelnikas and Respondent's counsel being Sarah Duncan. Special Master Herbrina Sanders presided over the dismissal.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2016-10-19","case_summary":"On October 19, 2016, Martha-Helene Stapleton filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging that a Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination she received on November 1, 2014, caused the stillbirth of her child. Ms. Stapleton was 38 years old and 38 weeks pregnant at the time of vaccination. The petition was filed by attorney Diana Stadelnikas of Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA. The respondent was the Secretary of Health and Human Services, represented by Sarah Duncan of the U.S. Department of Justice. On January 17, 2018, Ms. Stapleton filed a motion to dismiss her own petition, stating that she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation under the Program. The respondent's counsel indicated no objection to this motion. Special Master Herbrina Sanders reviewed the case. To be eligible for compensation, a petitioner must demonstrate either a \"Table Injury\" listed in the Vaccine Injury Table or prove that the vaccine actually caused the alleged injury. The public decision states that the record contained no evidence of a \"Table Injury\" and insufficient persuasive evidence that the Tdap vaccine caused the alleged stillbirth. The decision further noted that awards cannot be based solely on claims; petitions must be supported by medical records or a competent physician's opinion. In this instance, the medical records were deemed insufficient, and no expert witness opinion was filed. Consequently, Special Master Sanders dismissed the petition for insufficient proof. The decision was issued on February 9, 2018.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Herbrina Sanders Young","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Diana Stadelnikas","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA","petitioner_attorney_location":"Sarasota, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|diana-stadelnikas|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"STAPLETON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362-0","title":"STAPLETON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/17/2018) regarding 30 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (kl) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2018-02-09","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":195031,"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-01362/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01362-0"}]}