{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255-1","petitioner_identifier":"C.L.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":0.41,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"multiple","vaccination_date":"2011-05-11","condition_raw":"Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2016-03-02","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:37:37.845753+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":6,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":2,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners alleged that C.L., a premature infant born November 6, 2010, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) on May 13, 2011, two days after receiving multiple vaccinations (Hep B, DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, Rotavirus) on May 11, 2011. Petitioners' experts, Drs. Miller and Oleske, proposed that vaccines act as an extrinsic stressor in the Triple Risk Model for SIDS. They theorized that vaccines stimulate peripheral cytokine production, which then affects the vulnerable infant's brainstem serotonin network, suppressing arousal and leading to death. Respondent's experts, Drs. McCusker and Lidov, argued that vaccines are not recognized extrinsic risk factors for SIDS, that cytokine responses are localized and do not cause brain pathology, and that C.L.'s death was explained by known SIDS risk factors such as prematurity, male sex, potential prone sleeping, and gastro-esophageal reflux. The Special Master denied entitlement, finding petitioners failed to establish a reliable medical theory (Althen Prong One) or a logical sequence of cause and effect (Althen Prong Two) connecting the vaccines to the death, despite a proximate temporal relationship (Althen Prong Three). The theory of causation was determined to be Off-Table. Attorneys: Ronald C. Homer for petitioners, Jennifer L. Reynaud for respondent. Special Master: Nora Beth Dorsey. Decision Date: March 2, 2016.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2011-05-13","petition_filed_date":"2012-04-18","case_summary":"Leslie Lord and Randall Magnuski, as legal representatives of the estate of their deceased minor child, C.L., filed a petition on April 18, 2012, alleging that C.L. died on May 13, 2011, as a result of receiving multiple vaccinations on May 11, 2011. The vaccines administered were hepatitis B (Hep B), DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, and Rotavirus. C.L. was born prematurely on November 6, 2010. He had some early signs of potential brainstem dysfunction, including hypothermia and desaturation shortly after birth, and a dysconjugate gaze at his two-month checkup, but was otherwise developing normally at his well-baby checkups. At his four-month visit, he received DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, and rotavirus vaccines, and his mother noted he seemed sleepier than usual. At his six-month visit on May 11, 2011, he received the Hep B vaccine in addition to the others. Following vaccination, C.L. reportedly became very sleepy, refused to eat, was cranky, and remained out of sorts the following day. On May 13, 2011, C.L. was found unresponsive by his grandmother, who had been caring for him. He was pronounced dead later that day. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Petitioners' experts, neuropathologist Dr. Douglas Miller and immunologist Dr. James Oleske, proposed a theory that vaccines acted as an extrinsic stressor in the Triple Risk Model for SIDS. They posited that the vaccines stimulated the production of peripheral cytokines, which then communicated with C.L.'s vulnerable brainstem, interfering with his serotonin network and suppressing his arousal response, leading to his death. They argued that C.L. had an intrinsic vulnerability due to prematurity and observed brainstem abnormalities, and that the vaccines acted as an extrinsic stressor, analogous to a mild infection. Respondent's experts, immunologist Dr. Christine McCusker and neuropathologist Dr. Hart Lidov, countered that vaccines are not recognized extrinsic risk factors for SIDS. They argued that the cytokine response to vaccines is localized and does not cause pathological brain effects, and that recognized extrinsic risk factors, such as prone sleeping and gastro-esophageal reflux, sufficiently explained C.L.'s death without implicating the vaccines. Dr. McCusker stated that cytokines in the brain signal stress rather than cause pathology, and that they can improve arousal. Dr. Lidov noted that C.L. had multiple known risk factors for SIDS, including prematurity, male sex, potential prone sleeping, and gastro-esophageal reflux, which adequately explained his death. The Special Master, Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey, found that petitioners failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the vaccines caused C.L.'s death. The court found that petitioners did not establish a reliable medical theory (Althen Prong One) or a logical sequence of cause and effect (Althen Prong Two) connecting the vaccines to C.L.'s death, despite a proximate temporal relationship (Althen Prong Three). The petition was denied. Ronald C. Homer represented the petitioners, and Jennifer L. Reynaud represented the respondent. The decision was issued on March 2, 2016.","is_minor_inferred":1,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald C. Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"LORD et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255-0","title":"LORD et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/13/2015) regarding 81 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (tlf) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2015-11-03","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_12-vv-00255-1","title":"LORD et al v. 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