{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138-0","petitioner_identifier":"Arielle Lewis","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":24.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"HPV","vaccination_date":"2019-03-17","condition_raw":"inappropriate sinus node tachycardia, dysautonomia, small fiber neuropathy, Sjogren’s disease, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome","condition_category":"dysautonomia","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-04-08","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T02:00:00.137781+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":1,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"unclear","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2025-03-12","case_summary":"Arielle Lewis, a 24-year-old adult, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on March 12, 2025. She alleged that she suffered various injuries, including inappropriate sinus node tachycardia, dysautonomia, small fiber neuropathy, Sjogren’s disease, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, as a result of receiving three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine on March 17, 2019, May 13, 2019, and October 15, 2019. Ms. Lewis alleged that she experienced increased heart rate and shortness of breath within days of her first vaccination. The petition was filed over five years after her first vaccination and symptom onset. Ms. Lewis argued that the statute of limitations should be equitably tolled, asserting that she was unaware of the Vaccine Program until August 2023 and that a healthcare professional failed to provide her with a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) at the time of vaccination. She also made allegations regarding the vaccine manufacturer's conduct. The respondent moved to dismiss the case for being untimely filed. The court found that Ms. Lewis failed to establish both elements required for equitable tolling: diligent pursuit of her rights and the presence of an extraordinary circumstance. The court noted that the Vaccine Act does not have a discovery rule and that unawareness of the program or a failure to provide a VIS does not support equitable tolling. The court also dismissed her claims regarding manufacturer misconduct as speculative and irrelevant to the Vaccine Act's causation standards. Consequently, the case was dismissed for being untimely filed.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Arielle Lewis","petitioner_attorney_name":"Bijan Esfandiari","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Wisner Baum LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Los Angeles, CA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:43:38","attorney_canonical_keys":"|bijan-esfandiari|","firm_canonical_key":"wisner-baum","package_title":"LEWIS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138-0","title":"LEWIS v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 3/12/2025) regarding 8 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (abs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-04-08","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":220123,"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_24-vv-01138/USCOURTS-cofc-1_24-vv-01138-0"}]}