1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act
Emphasis added:
"SEC. 2122. (a) GENERAL RULE.-Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (e) State law shall apply to a civil action brought for damages for a vaccine-related injury or death.
State and local governments.
Claims.
42 USC 300aa-22.
"(b) UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS; WARNINGS.-
"(1) No vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after the effective date of this subtitle if the injury or death resulted from side effects that were unavoidable even though the vaccine was properly prepared and was accompanied by proper directions and warnings.
"(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), a vaccine shall be presumed to be accompanied by proper directions and warnings if the vaccine manufacturer shows that it complied in all material respects with all requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (including regulations issued under such provisions; applicable to the vaccine and related to vaccine-related injury or death for which the civil action was brought unless the plaintiff shows-
21 USC 301 note.
42 USC 262.
"(A) that the manufacturer engaged in the conduct set forth in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 2123(d)(2), or
"(B) by clear and convincing evidence that the manufacturer failed to exercise due care notwithstanding its compliance with such Act and section (and regulations issued under such provisions).
"(c) DIRECT WARNINGS.-No vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after the effective date of this subtitle solely due to the manufacturer's failure to provide direct warnings to the injured party (or the injured party's legal representative) of the potential dangers resulting from the administration of the vaccine manufactured by the manufacturer.
"(d) CONSTRUCTION.-The standards of responsibility prescribed by this section are not to be construed as authorizing a person who brought a civil action for damages against a vaccine manufacturer for a vaccine-related injury or death in which damages were denied or which was dismissed with prejudice to bring a new civil action against such manufacturer for such injury or death.
"(e) PREEMPTION.-No State may establish or enforce a law which prohibits an individual from bringing a civil action against a vaccine manufacturer for damages for a vaccine-related injury or death if such civil action is not barred by this subtitle.
State and local governments.
100 STAT. 3774 PUBLIC LAW 99-660-NOV. 14, 1986
"TRIAL"SEC. 2123. (a) GENERAL RULE.-A civil action against a vaccine manufacturer for damages for a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after the effective date of this subtitle which is not barred by section 2111(a)(2) shall be tried in three stages.
42 USC 300aa-23.
"(b) LIABILITY.-The first stage of such a civil action shall be held to determine if a vaccine manufacturer is liable under section 2122.
"(c) GENERAL DAMAGES.-The second stage of such a civil action shall be held to determine the amount of damages (other than punitive damages) a vaccine manufacturer found to be liable under section 2122 shall be required to pay.
"(d) PUNITIVE DAMAGES.-
"(1) If sought by the plaintiff, the third stage of such an action shall be held to determine the amount of punitive damages a vaccine manufacturer found to be liable under section 2122 shall be required to pay.
Fraud.
"(2) If in such an action the manufacturer shows that it complied, in all material respects, with all requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act applicable to the vaccine and related to the vaccine injury or death with respect to which the action was brought, the manufacturer shall not be held liable for punitive damages unless the manufacturer engaged in-
21 USC 301 note.
42 USC 201 note.
"(A) fraud or intentional and wrongful withholding of information from the Secretary during any phase of a proceeding for approval of the vaccine under section 351,