Late last week, the Federal Circuit affirmed the decision of the Court of Claims upholding a special master's dismissal of charges alleging that autism had been caused by administration of a childhood vaccine. As our readers know, such claims have been commonplace, notwithstanding the junk science underlying them; the Circuit opinion notes that approximately 5,000 such claims have been filed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.

According to drug and device lawyer James Beck, what does this mean for such litigation? "Well, stick a fork in it, it's just about done." (h/t Olson)