{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317-0","petitioner_identifier":"Diane Lemanski","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":58.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"Hepatitis A","vaccination_date":"2018-02-02","condition_raw":"chronic motor axonal polyneuropathy","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-03-26","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal44","extracted_at":"2026-05-05 00:32:14","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Hepatitis A vaccine on February 2, 2018, age 58, alleged to cause or significantly aggravate chronic motor axonal polyneuropathy and ultimately contribute to Diane Lemanski's death on January 16, 2019. DENIED. Petitioner Suzanne Zacharski relied on progressive leg aching/twitching, EMG findings, and treating speculation about vaccine association. Respondent disputed diagnosis, causation, and significant aggravation, emphasizing pre-vaccination symptoms and unclear/progressive neuropathy etiology. Chief Special Master Corcoran dismissed the petition March 26, 2025. No injury compensation awarded.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2019-01-16","petition_filed_date":"2021-01-08","case_summary":"Suzanne Zacharski, on behalf of Diane Lemanski, filed a petition alleging that the Hepatitis A vaccine administered on February 2, 2018, caused or significantly aggravated Ms. Lemanski's chronic motor axonal polyneuropathy (CMAP) and ultimately led to her death. Ms. Lemanski, who was 58 years old at the time of vaccination, had a medical history including asthma, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. She also had prior complaints of foot and leg pain. Following vaccination, Ms. Lemanski reported experiencing aching and twitching in her legs, which progressed over time. Her condition was investigated by multiple physicians, and various diagnostic tests, including EMGs, were performed. While some treaters speculated about a vaccine association, others listed the etiology as unclear. Ms. Lemanski's condition worsened, leading to hospitalization and rehabilitation, and she was eventually diagnosed with a progressive axonal neuropathy of unclear etiology. She passed away on January 16, 2019, with her death certificate listing \"Demyelinating Polyneuropathy\" as the cause, though her autopsy was inconclusive. The court considered expert testimony regarding potential autoimmune mechanisms, including molecular mimicry, and the possibility of significant aggravation of a pre-existing condition. Ultimately, the Chief Special Master denied entitlement, finding that the petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the Hepatitis A vaccine caused or significantly aggravated Ms. Lemanski's condition, particularly due to issues with the timing of symptom onset and the lack of a clear medical theory linking the vaccine to the specific neuropathy. The case was denied.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Joseph Alexander Vuckovich","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Mctlaw","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|joseph-vuckovich|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"ZACHARSKI v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317-0","title":"ZACHARSKI v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/26/2025) regarding 63 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (mva) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-04-28","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":602707,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00317-1","title":"ZACHARSKI v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/10/2026) regarding 71 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (mva) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-04-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}