{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508-0","petitioner_identifier":"P.L.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2015-03-13","condition_raw":"encephalopathy and seizure disorder","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2021-03-29","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:57:20.935951+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":6,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Ashley Ball, on behalf of minor P.L., alleged that DTaP, Hep B, IPV, Hib, pneumococcal, and rotavirus vaccinations administered on March 13, May 20, and August 4, 2015, caused encephalopathy and seizure disorder. The case was dismissed for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. The Special Master found no evidence of a Table injury, specifically noting the absence of acute encephalopathy onset within 72 hours of vaccination and no evidence of altered consciousness. Medical records indicated P.L. was alert and active following vaccinations. The Special Master also found insufficient proof for a causation-in-fact claim, as the medical records alone were inadequate and no expert medical opinion was provided by the petitioner. The petitioner failed to file an expert report despite multiple extensions and an Order to Show Cause, leading to dismissal. The theory of causation was \"Off-Table.\" Special Master Daniel T. Horner issued the decision on March 29, 2021. Petitioner's counsel was Mark Sadaka, and respondent's counsel was Lara Ann Englund.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-04-06","case_summary":"Ashley Ball, on behalf of her minor child P.L., filed a petition on April 6, 2018, alleging that childhood vaccinations received on various dates in 2015 caused P.L. to suffer encephalopathy and seizure disorder. P.L. received the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B (Hep B), inactivated poliovirus (IPV), Hemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate, and rotavirus vaccines on March 13, 2015, May 20, 2015, and August 4, 2015. The petition claimed these vaccinations caused encephalopathy and seizure disorder. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed a Rule 4(c) report recommending against compensation, arguing that the petitioner had not established a Table injury nor a causation-in-fact claim. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms or the petitioner's counsel's specific arguments beyond the respondent's position. The Special Master noted that the medical records did not indicate an onset of acute encephalopathy within 72 hours of vaccination, nor did they show P.L. suffered any altered consciousness. Medical records from treating physicians indicated P.L. was active and alert following vaccinations. The Special Master found that the medical records alone were insufficient to support a causation-in-fact claim, and the petitioner had not filed any expert medical opinion. Despite multiple extensions and an Order to Show Cause, the petitioner failed to provide the necessary information for an expert report and failed to prosecute the case. Petitioner's counsel made numerous attempts to contact the petitioner to obtain the necessary information, but the petitioner was unresponsive. Consequently, the case was dismissed on March 29, 2021, by Special Master Daniel T. Horner for failure to prosecute and insufficient proof. The public decision does not specify any award amounts or annuity terms. The attorneys involved were Mark Sadaka for the petitioner and Lara Ann Englund for the respondent.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Mark Sadaka","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Mark T. Sadaka, LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Englewood, NJ","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|mark-sadaka|","firm_canonical_key":"mark-t-sadaka","package_title":"BALL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508-0","title":"BALL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/4/2021) regarding 54 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (et) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-03-29","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":225731,"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_18-vv-00508/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00508-1","title":"BALL v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/12/2021) regarding 62 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-09-15","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}