Tessa Needham, et al. v. Merck & Company, Inc., et al.
AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity Securities JusticiabilityDoctri Jurisdiction
Whether the Fourth Circuit erred in finding res judicata effect for special masters' findings in Vaccine Injury Compensation Plan claims and in upholding the constitutionality of the National Childhood Injury Act's regulatory amendment provisions
Did the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals err by finding that a special masters’ findings in Plaintiffs’ claims filed in the Department of Health and Human Services administrative Vaccine Injury Compensation Plan (“VICP”) were entitled to res judicata effect when the Vaccine Act expressly allows a plaintiff to reject a VICP decision and file a de novo action in a district court? The Fourth Circuit’s decision below is contrary to Shalala v. Whitecotton , 514 U.S. 268 (1995). Did the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals err by holding the National Childhood Injury Act (“Vaccine Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa1 et seq. was constitutional where Congress enacted a Vaccine Table in the Act itself l isting the vaccines and injuries covered by the Act, but the Act purported to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services by regulatory action alone to amend or repeal the vaccines and injuries covered by the Act without an act of Congress signed by the President, as required by the presentment clause of the United States Constitution, article I, section 7, clause 2? The Fourth Circuit’s decision below conflicts with Clinton v. City of New York, 524 U.S. 417, 438 (1998) (“There is no provision in the Constitution that authorizes the President to enact, to amend, or to repeal statutes.”) and Terran v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 195 F.3d 1302, 13171321 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (Plager, J. Dissenting).