Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/10pdf/09-152.pdf
Page Number: 7.0

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BRUESEWITZ v. WYETH LLC 

Opinion of the Court 

adverse side effects; and indicates how soon after vaccina-
tion  those  side  effects  should  first  manifest  themselves.17 
Claimants  who  show  that  a  listed  injury  first  manifested
itself  at  the  appropriate  time  are  prima  facie  entitled  to
compensation.18  No showing of causation is necessary; the
Secretary  bears  the  burden  of  disproving  causation.19  A 
claimant may also recover for unlisted side effects, and for
listed  side  effects  that  occur  at  times  other  than  those 
specified  in  the  Table,  but  for  those  the  claimant  must 
prove  causation.20    Unlike  in  tort  suits,  claimants  under 
the  Act  are  not  required  to  show  that  the  administered 
vaccine  was  defectively  manufactured,  labeled,  or  de-
signed.

Successful  claimants  receive  compensation  for  medical, 
rehabilitation,  counseling,  special  education,  and  voca-
tional  training  expenses;  diminished  earning  capacity;
pain  and  suffering;  and  $250,000  for  vaccine-related 
deaths.21    Attorney’s  fees  are  provided,  not  only  for  suc-
cessful cases, but even for unsuccessful claims that are not 
frivolous.22  These awards are paid out of a fund created by
an excise tax on each vaccine dose.23
  The  quid  pro  quo  for  this,  designed  to  stabilize  the
vaccine  market,  was  the  provision  of  significant  tort-
liability  protections  for  vaccine  manufacturers.    The  Act 
requires claimants to seek relief through the compensation 
program before filing suit for more than $1,000.24  Manu-
facturers  are  generally  immunized  from  liability  for  fail-

—————— 

17 See  §300aa–14(a);  42  CFR  §100.3  (2009)  (current  Vaccine  Injury 

Table). 

18 See 42 U. S. C. §§300aa–11(c)(1), 300aa–13(a)(1)(A). 
19 See §300aa–13(a)(1)(B). 
20 See §300aa–11(c)(1)(C)(ii). 
21 See §300aa–15(a). 
22 See §300aa–15(e). 
23 See §300aa–15(i)(2); 26 U. S. C. §§4131, 9510. 
24 See 42 U. S. C. §300aa–11(a)(2).