Haleigh Golden v. HHS - Meningococcal, death from Meningitis MTV-4 (meningococcal) vaccine (2025)

Haleigh Golden, a 17-year-old, received a meningococcal vaccine on June 1, 2016. Her parents, Douglas Golden and Rishanne Dradt, filed a petition alleging the vaccine caused a severe adverse reaction that led to her death on November 6, 2018.

In the fall of 2016, Haleigh began experiencing head, back, and neck pain, which was initially assessed as a possible viral syndrome. Approximately three months later, she experienced a significant bite mark on her tongue and was found unresponsive, later diagnosed with probable seizures.

Over the next 23 months, she was treated for a seizure disorder, experiencing continued seizures. Her death was attributed to epilepsy complicated by positional asphyxia, ruled an accident.

Petitioners presented expert opinions from Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld and Dr.

Steven Spillers, who opined that the vaccine could have caused a proliferation of non-targeted meningococcal serotypes, leading to meningitis, a seizure disorder, and ultimately her death. The respondent opposed compensation, arguing the claim lacked a reasonable basis and that intervening causes existed.

This decision addresses an interim award of attorneys' fees and costs, granting $60,538.29. The case is ongoing regarding entitlement and final damages.