{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-0","petitioner_identifier":"S.D.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":1.02,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"MMR","vaccination_date":"2016-04-27","condition_raw":"encephalitis","condition_category":"encephalitis_encephalopathy","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2024-08-27","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:05:16.868400+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":4,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":14,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Samantha Deters, on behalf of minor S.D., filed a petition alleging a Table injury of encephalitis following an MMR vaccination administered on April 27, 2016. S.D., approximately 14 days post-vaccination, developed acute cerebellar ataxia, characterized by gait instability, clumsiness, and falls. Medical records indicated neurological dysfunction. Evidence of an inflammatory process included elevated CSF WBC (corrected for traumatic tap), abnormal MRI findings consistent with sequelae of encephalitis, and abnormal EEG showing bilateral cortical dysfunction. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Frederick Nahm, opined that these findings met the Table criteria for encephalitis and that S.D. developed a chronic encephalopathy persisting for at least six months. Respondent's expert, Dr. Max Wiznitzer, disputed the encephalitis diagnosis, attributing symptoms to a prior URI or pre-existing autism spectrum disorder and arguing the inflammatory markers were not indicative of encephalitis. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found Petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence that S.D. suffered a Table injury of encephalitis, meeting the criteria for neurological dysfunction, inflammatory process, and chronic encephalopathy, and that exclusionary factors were not met. Entitlement was granted. Attorneys: Bridget Candace McCullough for Petitioner, Lauren Kells for Respondent. Special Master: Nora Beth Dorsey. Decision Date: August 27, 2024.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2019-05-28","case_summary":"On March 28, 2019, Samantha Deters, as parent and natural guardian of S.D., a minor, filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program alleging S.D. suffered a Table injury of encephalitis as a result of a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination administered on April 27, 2016. Respondent argued against compensation, stating the petitioner had not met her burden of proof. Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found that the petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence that S.D. suffered a Table claim for encephalitis post-MMR vaccination and was therefore entitled to compensation, with damages to be determined separately. The decision was issued on August 27, 2024.\n\nS.D. was born on April 8, 2015. She received an MMR vaccination on April 27, 2016, at her one-year well visit. Her mother reported that approximately 14 days later, around May 11, 2016, S.D. began exhibiting symptoms of clumsiness and falling frequently, along with increased fussiness, clinginess, and vomiting. These symptoms led to an emergency room visit on May 18, 2016, where she was diagnosed with acute cerebellar ataxia. Medical records from this period documented neurological dysfunction, including gait instability, unsteadiness, and falls. Further evaluations, including a lumbar puncture and MRI, were performed. The lumbar puncture showed elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts, which, after accounting for a traumatic tap, were considered by petitioner's expert to indicate pleocytosis consistent with inflammation. The initial brain MRI was normal, but a subsequent MRI on August 3, 2016, showed subtle FLAIR signal foci consistent with sequelae of encephalitis. Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies in August 2016 and June 2017 showed bilateral cortical dysfunction and bitemporal slowing, interpreted as evidence of persisting post-encephalitic brain injury. Dr. Yuval Shafrir, a treating neurologist, diagnosed an \"encephalitic process\" with acute ataxia, sleepiness, and vomiting, and later noted an \"autistic regression, which followed acute cerebellar ataxia, probably induced by the MMR vaccination.\" Petitioner's expert, Dr. Frederick Nahm, opined that S.D. suffered from encephalitis, meeting the Table criteria, including neurological dysfunction (cerebellar ataxia) and evidence of an inflammatory process (elevated CSF WBC, abnormal EEG, and abnormal MRI). He also concluded that S.D. developed a chronic encephalopathy that persisted for at least six months.\n\nRespondent's expert, Dr. Max Wiznitzer, argued against a Table encephalitis diagnosis. He attributed the elevated CSF WBC to the traumatic lumbar puncture, found the MRI findings not consistent with encephalitis, and suggested the EEG abnormalities could be explained by drowsiness or an underlying autistic spectrum disorder. Dr. Wiznitzer also contended that S.D.'s symptoms resolved within four months and that her ongoing dysfunction was due to a pre-existing autism spectrum disorder, which he believed began prior to vaccination. The Special Master found Dr. Nahm's opinions more persuasive. The Special Master noted that S.D. had a speech delay at one year of age but no other developmental concerns prior to her vaccination. The Special Master found that S.D. met the criteria for a Table injury of encephalitis, including neurological dysfunction (acute cerebellar ataxia), evidence of an inflammatory process (elevated CSF WBC after correction, abnormal MRI, and abnormal EEG), and a chronic encephalopathy persisting for at least six months. The Special Master rejected the respondent's arguments regarding exclusionary criteria, finding no evidence of an underlying malignancy, ADEM, or a specific infectious disease causing the encephalitis. The Special Master also found that S.D. did not have a pre-existing developmental disorder or autism spectrum disorder that caused or contributed to her condition. Entitlement to compensation was granted, with damages to be determined in a separate order. Petitioner's counsel was Bridget Candace McCullough. Respondent's counsel was Lauren Kells. Special Master was Nora Beth Dorsey.","is_minor_inferred":null,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Bridget Candace McCullough","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Muller Brazil, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Dresher, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|bridget-mccullough|","firm_canonical_key":"muller-brazil","package_title":"ADAMS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-0","title":"ADAMS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC RULING (Originally filed: 7/30/2024) regarding 99 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-08-27","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":406496,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-1","title":"ADAMS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/28/2025) regarding 120 DECISION Proffer. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (aevw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-04-22","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":309621,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision proffer'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459/USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_19-vv-00459-2","title":"ADAMS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 2/10/2026) regarding 127 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (aevw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-03-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}