The Vaccine Injured Petitioners Bar Association is hosting a Vaccine Litigation Boot Camp in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at the Sofitel Hotel, the day before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims 30th Annual Judicial Conference (you are encouraged to attend the conference). The Boot Camp is open to all petitioners counsel in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and is free of charge. You are not required to be a VIP Bar Association member to attend.

Vaccine injury litigation is a unique, highly complex practice environment that in no way resembles a typical medical malpractice or personal injury (PI) practice. Admiralty and patent law provide good analogies, with unique procedures, judges, substantive law and burdens of proof. The differences from PI are many: petitioners do not have a jury of their “peers” but rather specialized vaccine judges who are well-versed in the complex scientific issues that underlie vaccine injuries. The causation issues to be resolved in vaccine cases are incredibly complex medically, involving issues of immunology, genetics, neurology, and epidemiology. High-caliber experts are required in contested cases. Even conceded Table cases remain challenging to resolve.

If you are a new vaccine practitioner, you are encouraged to attend this Boot Camp. Even long-time practitioners will get considerable benefit from the boot camp as vaccine litigation in the VICP has changed and will continue to do so. The Office of Special Masters is experiencing record filings of new cases, and it is imperative that the bar do everything in its power to ensure that it is supporting and promoting "best practices" in the court. The goal of the Boot Camp is to disseminate best practices to as many vaccine petitioners' counsel as possible. This year's Boot Camp will feature presentations on obtaining certified medical records and the Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen).

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

To RSVP for the Boot Camp, or if you have any questions, please contact Renée J. Gentry, Esq., of the Bar Association, at [email protected]  

Courtesy room blocks have been reserved at the following hotels. Attendees are responsible for making their own reservations and all charges incurred during their stay.

Sofitel Hotel - 806 15TH Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20005. Individuals must make their own reservations by calling the hotel at 202-730-8800 no later than Sunday, October 13, 2019. Each individual must ask for group reservations and identify themselves as members of the VIP Bar Association. 

Hyatt Place Washington - 2121 M St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20037. Please reserve your room by clicking the link.