{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770-0","petitioner_identifier":"M.A.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"Hepatitis B","vaccination_date":"2016-02-02","condition_raw":"death","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2020-12-15","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:58:17.435360+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":null,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Kerstina Alexander, on behalf of minor M.A., alleged that M.A. died due to vaccines received on February 2, 2016 (Hepatitis B), March 23, 2016 (Hepatitis B, Prevnar 13, Pentacel, Rotavirus), and May 26, 2016 (Prevnar 13, Pentacel, Rotavirus). The case was dismissed via unopposed motion by the petitioner on December 2, 2020, due to insufficient proof. The Special Master found no evidence of a Table injury and no persuasive evidence that the vaccines caused M.A.'s death. The petition lacked sufficient supporting medical records and an expert physician's opinion. Special Master Herbrina Sanders issued the dismissal on December 15, 2020. Petitioner's counsel was Jonathan J. Svitak, and Respondent's counsel was Voris E. Johnson.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-05-31","case_summary":"On May 31, 2018, Kerstina Alexander, on behalf of her minor child M.A., filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that M.A. died due to vaccines received on February 2, 2016, March 23, 2016, and May 26, 2016. The vaccines included Hepatitis B, Prevnar 13, Pentacel (DTaP-b), and Rotavirus. After initiating the case, the petitioner investigated the facts and science and concluded that she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation. Consequently, on December 2, 2020, the petitioner filed an unopposed motion to dismiss the case, stating that proceeding further would be unreasonable and would waste the resources of the court, the respondent, and the program. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, did not object to the motion. Special Master Herbrina Sanders noted that to receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a Table injury corresponding to the vaccination or that the vaccine actually caused the injury. The public decision states that the record did not contain evidence of a Table injury, nor persuasive evidence that the vaccines caused M.A.'s death. The Special Master also noted that petitions must be supported by medical records or a physician's opinion, which were insufficient in this case, and that the petitioner had not filed a supportive opinion from an expert witness. Therefore, the case was dismissed for insufficient proof. Jonathan J. Svitak represented the petitioner, and Voris E. Johnson represented the respondent. The decision was issued on December 15, 2020.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Herbrina Sanders Young","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Jonathan J. Svitak","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Shannon Law Group","petitioner_attorney_location":"Woodbridge, IL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|jonathan-svitak|","firm_canonical_key":"shannon-law-group","package_title":"ALEXANDER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770-0","title":"ALEXANDER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 12/15/2020) regarding 41 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Herbrina Sanders. (rig) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-01-19","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":201720,"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-00770/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00770-0"}]}