No. 25-924

Tessa Needham, et al. v. Merck & Company, Inc., et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-05
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Tags: administrative-law constitutional-law judicial-review presentment-clause res-judicata vaccine-compensation
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw SocialSecurity Securities JusticiabilityDoctri Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (AI Summary)

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

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

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).

Docket Entries

2026-02-02
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 9, 2026)
2025-12-01
Application (25A615) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until February 1, 2026.
2025-11-18
Application (25A615) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 3, 2025 to February 1, 2026, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Tessa Needham, et al.
Kenneth S. RobbinsBronster Fujichaku Robbins, Petitioner
Kenneth S. RobbinsBronster Fujichaku Robbins, Petitioner