NPR Reports On Vaccine Court

The Office of Special Masters of the United States Court of Federal Claims, or as it is commonly referred to as the “Vaccine Court”, has been in the news recently. This little-known Court handles all vaccine-related injury claims in the United States. Created in 1986, the Court is tasked with finding if an injury is related to a vaccine, and then determining the amount of compensation.

The process was intended to be more non-adversarial than our traditional civil courts, but in practice, it mirrors our civil courts more than it should. A petitioner’s burden of proof is a ‘preponderance of the evidence’ standard- meaning it is more likely than not that the vaccine caused the claimed injury. Getting a medical professional to testify to this is often difficult.

NPR this month published two pieces on the Court and the hardships faced for those who are not afforded justice. Receiving just compensation for injuries is a steep mountain to climb for those who are injured.

To read the articles, click here and here.

Booth Samuels is admitted to practice in the Federal Claims Court where he handles vaccine-related injury cases. If you or a loved one were injured by a vaccine, please contact him for a case evaluation toll-free at 1-866-515-8880, or by email at booths@pittmandutton.com. 

AP Study On Vaccine Court

The AP conducted a study on the National Vaccine Compensation Injury Program. For those of us who practice in this field, some of the findings were not news. The study brings to light some of the problems of the intention of the Program and the realities of what it has become-a system full of red-tape that creates major burdens to achieving quick justice.

For more on the story, click on the link here.