{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745-1","petitioner_identifier":"Lindy Sells","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (claude code v1)","vaccine_type":"MMR","vaccination_date":"2018-10-01","condition_raw":"acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)","condition_category":"encephalitis_encephalopathy","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-02-18","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:15:08.576826+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":12,"theory_of_causation":"Off-Table","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2020-06-22","case_summary":"Lindy Sells, an adult, received the MMR and varicella vaccines on October 1, 2018. Within approximately two weeks, she began experiencing neurological symptoms including fatigue, numbness in her feet, and double vision. Her condition progressed, leading to weakness, pain, and cognitive difficulties. She was eventually diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) by her treating physicians. Petitioner presented medical records, testimony from her treating physicians, and an expert report from Dr. Carlos Tornatore, who opined that the vaccines caused her ADEM through molecular mimicry. Respondent argued against compensation, with their expert, Dr. Thomas Leist, attributing Petitioner's symptoms to pre-existing conditions such as alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hypothyroidism, and questioning the vaccine-ADEM link and temporal relationship. The court found that Petitioner provided preponderant evidence that her diagnosis was ADEM and that the MMR and/or varicella vaccines caused her condition, satisfying all three prongs of the Althen test for off-Table claims. The court ruled that Lindy Sells is entitled to compensation, and the case is proceeding to determine damages.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Renee J. Gentry","petitioner_attorney_firm":"The Law Office of Renee J. Gentry","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|renee-gentry|","firm_canonical_key":"law-office-of-renee-j-gentry","package_title":"SELLS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745-0","title":"SELLS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 1/15/2025) regarding 142 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-02-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745-1","title":"SELLS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC RULING (Originally filed: 1/24/2025) regarding 145 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mjf) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-02-18","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":476251,"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_20-vv-00745/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00745-1"}]}