Rebecca Wentland v. HHS - Tdap, transverse myelitis (2021)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
Rebecca Wentland filed a petition for compensation on August 28, 2018, alleging that the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine she received on April 8, 2016, caused her to develop transverse myelitis (TM). She further alleged that she suffered residual effects from the condition for more than six months.
The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused Ms. Wentland's TM.
The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details of the condition, diagnostic tests, or treatments. The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to compensation.
Special Master Christian J. Moran reviewed the stipulation and adopted it as the decision of the Court.
The award included a lump sum payment of $25,000.00 payable to the petitioner and a lump sum of $1,308.89 to reimburse a Medicaid lien, for a total award of $26,308.89. This amount represents compensation for all damages available under the program.
The decision was filed on July 27, 2021. Ronald C.
Homer represented the petitioner, and Sarah C. Duncan represented the respondent.
The public decision does not name any experts or detail the specific mechanism of causation.
Theory of causation
Petitioner Rebecca Wentland alleged that the Tdap vaccine administered on April 8, 2016, caused her to develop transverse myelitis (TM), a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. She further alleged residual effects for more than six months. Respondent denied causation. The parties submitted a joint stipulation for compensation, which was adopted by Special Master Christian J. Moran. The stipulation resulted in an award of $25,000.00 as a lump sum to the petitioner and $1,308.89 to reimburse a Medicaid lien, totaling $26,308.89. The theory of causation relied on the Vaccine Injury Table. The public decision does not name experts or describe the specific mechanism of injury. Petitioner counsel was Ronald C. Homer, and respondent counsel was Sarah C. Duncan. The decision date was July 27, 2021.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01308