Jaylah Black v. HHS - Tdap, alleged acute cerebellar ataxia, acute vestibular neuropathy, AIDP, polyneuropathy, weakness, functional gait disorder, and conversion disorder (2026)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On June 25, 2020, Lorraine Ferrucci filed a petition on behalf of her then-minor granddaughter, Jaylah Black. The petition alleged that HPV9, Tdap, and Menactra vaccines administered on June 28, 2017, an influenza vaccine administered on October 31, 2017, and a second HPV9 vaccine administered on December 29, 2017 caused acute cerebellar ataxia, acute vestibular neuropathy, AIDP, polyneuropathy, weakness, functional gait disorder, conversion disorder, and related neurologic symptoms.
By 2025, Jaylah had reached the age of majority and did not want to continue the Vaccine Program case. In an unopposed motion to dismiss, she maintained that she had suffered injuries but stated that she intended to reject any Program judgment and pursue civil litigation in the Gardasil multidistrict litigation in North Carolina.
Special Master Herbrina D. S.
Young dismissed the petition on January 2, 2026. The dismissal stated that the record was insufficient to support compensation, no Table claim had been established, and no medical opinion had been filed to support causation.
Theory of causation
HPV9, Tdap, and Menactra vaccines June 28, 2017; influenza October 31, 2017; second HPV9 December 29, 2017; then-minor Jaylah Black alleged acute cerebellar ataxia, acute vestibular neuropathy, AIDP, polyneuropathy, weakness, functional gait disorder, and conversion disorder. DISMISSED after Jaylah reached majority and chose not to proceed, intending civil litigation. No Table claim or medical causation opinion supported entitlement. SM Herbrina D. S. Young; petition June 25, 2020; decision January 2, 2026.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00776