Landis Mills v. HHS - Tdap, systematic juvenile arthritis (2023)

Landis Mills filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 30, 2017. The petitioner alleged that he suffered from systematic juvenile arthritis (SJA) which was either caused-in-fact by the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine or significantly aggravated by it.

The petition stated that the petitioner experienced residual effects of the condition for more than six months, that no prior civil action for damages had been filed or settled, and that the vaccine was administered in the United States. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused or significantly aggravated the petitioner's alleged SJA or any other condition.

Despite the respondent's denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation on November 21, 2023, agreeing that compensation should be awarded. Special Master Daniel T.

Horner reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the Court. Pursuant to the stipulation, Landis Mills was awarded a lump sum of $60,000.00, payable by check to the petitioner, as compensation for all items of damages available under the program.

The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, medical tests, treatments, or expert witnesses. The attorneys involved were Mark Theodore Sadaka for the petitioner and Camille Michelle Collett for the respondent.