On March 16, 2026, a federal judge granted substantially all preliminary relief sought by a coalition of medical professional societies and public health organizations represented by Epstein Becker Green in AAP v. Kennedy.
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy of the District of Massachusetts found that the American Academy of Pediatrics and six other medical and public health organizations were likely to succeed in showing that the Department of Health and Human Services violated the law when it issued revised recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including changes to the childhood immunization schedule. The court also stayed appointments made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the federal vaccine policy committee, finding they veered sharply from normal procedure.
The client team was led by Richard H. Hughes IV and James (Jimmy) J. Oh, with fellow Members of the Firm Kathleen A. Barrett, Daniella R. Lee, Elizabeth J. McEvoy, and Robert E. Wanerman; Senior Counsel Jeremy A. Avila; Associates Spreeha Choudhury, Gianna Costello, Hailey Genaw, Kyla Perrotta, and William Walters; Advisor Anna Larson; and Law Clerk–Admission Pending Julia Rioux Thayer.
This result—as covered in the client's press release—received extensive national and international coverage and was recognized in Law360's Legal Lions of the Week series and The AmLaw Litigation Daily's Litigator of the Week series.
AmLaw Litigation Daily
Epstein Becker Green Featured in Litigator of the Week Series
The AmLaw Litigation Daily featured the Epstein Becker Green client team that represented a coalition of medical professional societies and public health organizations in AAP v. Kennedy in their weekly coverage and recognition series highlighting standout performances by defense and plaintiff attorneys in major trials, appellate rulings, and significant settlements. Published by ALM, it spotlights lawyers securing massive verdicts, high-stakes defense wins, or pivotal legal victories:
"Shout-out to a team led by Richard Hughes, IV, and James Oh of Epstein Becker Green representing medical professional societies and public health organizations in a lawsuit challenging certain actions taken by the Department of Health and Human Services affecting national guidance on vaccines. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston issued a preliminary injunction this week staying appointments HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. made to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and recent votes undertaken by the committee, including changes to the childhood immunization schedule, finding they likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The Epstein Becker Green team includes Kathleen Barrett, Daniella Lee, Elizabeth McEvoy, Robert Wanerman, Jeremy Avila, Spreeha Choudhury, Gianna Costello, Hailey Genaw, Kyla Perrotta, William Walters, Anna Larson and Julia Rioux Thayer."
Law360 Legal Lions
Epstein Becker Green Featured in Legal Lions of the Week Series
Law360 featured the Epstein Becker Green client team that represented a coalition of medical professional societies and public health organizations in AAP v. Kennedy in their weekly series that recognizes standout litigation successes:
"Epstein Becker Green makes this week's list after a Massachusetts federal judge on March 16 blocked the Trump administration's modified childhood vaccine schedule and put all decisions made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s federal vaccine policy committee on hold, finding they veered sharply from normal procedure and likely violated the law.
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy found that the American Academy of Pediatrics and six other medical and public health organizations were likely to succeed in showing that the Department of Health and Human Services violated various statutes when it issued its recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The plaintiffs are represented by James Oh, Elizabeth McEvoy, Richard Hughes IV, Jeremy Avila, Daniella Lee, Kathleen Barrett, Gianna Costello, Robert Wanerman and William Walters of Epstein Becker Green."