{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884-0","petitioner_identifier":"Eric Simmons","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":17.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"HPV; meningococcal","vaccination_date":"2017-07-31","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barre syndrome / acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN)","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-11-19","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal42","extracted_at":"2026-05-05 00:15:43","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":2,"time_to_onset_days":30,"theory_of_causation":"HPV and meningococcal vaccines on July 31, 2017, age 17, followed by GBS/AMSAN beginning roughly 30-42 days later. ENTITLEMENT GRANTED; damages pending. Petitioner relied on Dr. Norman Latov, who proposed molecular mimicry and bystander activation and cited the Miranda epidemiologic study. Respondent's Dr. Andrew MacGinnitie and Dr. Michael Kruer disputed the association and applicability. Special Master Jennifer A. Shah credited the HPV theory, treating-physician causation notes, absence of better alternative causes, and timing, and granted entitlement on November 19, 2025.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2020-07-21","case_summary":"Eric Simmons, a minor, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on July 21, 2020, alleging that he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccines he received on July 31, 2017. Mr. Simmons's prior medical history included obesity, prehypertension, mild asthma, and allergies. He began experiencing leg soreness and numbness in early September 2017, approximately one month after his vaccinations. His symptoms progressed, leading to difficulty walking and falls. He was diagnosed with acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN), a variant of GBS, by his treating physicians, including neurologist Dr. Paul Burke and hospitalist Dr. Elizabeth Halvorson. Dr. Burke noted that the HPV vaccine was a possible trigger, and Dr. Halvorson also identified the HPV vaccination as a potential cause. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Norman Latov, opined that the HPV vaccine could cause GBS through molecular mimicry or bystander activation, citing epidemiological data from the Miranda study which suggested a strong association between HPV vaccination and GBS. Respondent's experts, Dr. Andrew MacGinnitie and Dr. Michael Kruer, contested the causal link, arguing that the epidemiological evidence was insufficient and the proposed mechanisms were not reliably applicable to this case. The Special Master found that Petitioner had demonstrated entitlement to compensation, crediting Dr. Latov's molecular mimicry theory and the Miranda study's epidemiological findings. The court also found a logical sequence of cause and effect, noting the absence of alternative causes and the treating physicians' opinions. The temporal relationship between vaccination and symptom onset, approximately 30-42 days, was deemed medically acceptable. The decision granted entitlement, with an order regarding damages to follow. Petitioner was represented by Christina Ciampolillo of Conway, Homer, P.C., and Respondent was represented by Emilie Williams of the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision was issued by Special Master Jennifer A. Shah.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Jennifer A. Shah","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Christina Ciampolillo","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|christina-ciampolillo|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884-0","title":"SIMMONS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/19/2025) regarding 69 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Jennifer A. Shah. (am) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-01-06","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":496084,"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-00884/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-00884-0"}]}