Tiffany Hale v. HHS - Influenza, chronic fatigue syndrome and/or complex regional pain syndrome (2022)

Tiffany Hale filed a petition alleging that she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and/or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) due to an influenza vaccine she received on September 29, 2016. She filed her petition with the Court of Federal Claims on September 30, 2019.

The case progressed as an off-Table claim, as neither CFS nor CRPS are listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Hale stated that she was unable to find an expert to support causation for her alleged injuries.

Consequently, she filed a motion to dismiss her own petition, acknowledging that she would be unable to prove entitlement to compensation. Respondent did not object to the dismissal.

The Special Master noted that the record lacked evidence of a Table Injury and insufficient proof that the vaccine caused her alleged conditions, as petitioners must provide medical records or a competent physician's opinion to support their claims. As Hale could not meet this burden, the case was dismissed for insufficient proof on April 29, 2022.