{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347-0","petitioner_identifier":"Richard Kline","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2019-01-14","condition_raw":"Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)","condition_category":"GBS","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2024-07-10","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T03:13:55.824724+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Sandra Kline alleged that an influenza vaccine administered on January 14, 2019, caused Richard Kline to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), leading to his death on February 12, 2021. The Secretary disputed the claim, arguing the onset of GBS was nine weeks post-vaccination, outside the Table timeframe, and that medical records indicated a diagnosis of CIDP, not GBS. Petitioner was ordered to file an expert report but instead moved for dismissal. Special Master Christian J. Moran granted the motion to dismiss with prejudice for insufficient proof. The Special Master found petitioner failed to establish a medical theory connecting the vaccine to the injury, a logical sequence of cause and effect, or that Richard Kline suffered from GBS, citing Althen v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs. and Broekelschen v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs. The public decision does not detail the specific mechanism of injury, expert testimony, or award breakdown, as the case was dismissed. The decision date was July 10, 2024, with the petition filed on December 30, 2021.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2021-02-12","petition_filed_date":"2021-12-30","case_summary":"Sandra Kline filed a petition for compensation on December 30, 2021, on behalf of her deceased husband, Richard Kline, alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on January 14, 2019, caused him to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which ultimately led to his death on February 12, 2021. The Secretary of Health and Human Services disputed the claim. The public decision does not name petitioner counsel or respondent counsel. The Secretary argued that the onset of Richard Kline's GBS occurred nine weeks after vaccination, which was outside the timeframe for a Table injury, and that treating physicians diagnosed Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) rather than GBS. The Secretary also contended that Ms. Kline had not established a reliable medical theory connecting the vaccine to the injury, a logical sequence of cause and effect, or that Richard Kline actually suffered from GBS. The case was reassigned to Special Master Christian J. Moran on December 19, 2023. Ms. Kline was ordered to file an expert report by May 17, 2024. On May 16, 2024, Ms. Kline moved for additional time to consider dismissal. Following a status conference, Ms. Kline moved to dismiss the case on June 11, 2024. Special Master Moran granted the motion, dismissing the case with prejudice due to insufficient proof. The Special Master noted that Ms. Kline failed to present a medical theory causally connecting the flu vaccination to her husband's condition, failed to show that nine weeks was an appropriate timeframe for symptom onset, and failed to establish that Richard Kline suffered from GBS, as opposed to CIDP, which was the ultimate diagnosis. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, other symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the mechanism of injury. The public decision does not mention any specific expert witnesses. The award amount is not applicable as the case was dismissed.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_firm":null,"petitioner_attorney_location":null,"adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":null,"firm_canonical_key":null,"package_title":"KLINE v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347-0","title":"KLINE v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/17/2024) regarding 44 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (ceo) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-07-10","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":236947,"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-02347/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02347-0"}]}