{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714-1","petitioner_identifier":"L.M.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":0.394,"age_unit_raw":"years (born August 8, 2011; vaccinated December 30, 2011)","vaccine_type":"Prevnar (pneumococcal conjugate), polio/IPV, Hib, and diphtheria-tetanus; pertussis withheld","vaccination_date":"2011-12-30","condition_raw":"epileptic encephalopathy/seizure disorder","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2019-07-23","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:43:31.401041+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":4,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":1,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner alleged that Prevnar, polio, Hib, and diphtheria-tetanus vaccines administered on December 30, 2011, at approximately 4.7 months old, significantly aggravated L.M.'s SCN8A-related epileptic encephalopathy/seizure disorder. The theory posited that the vaccines triggered an immune/cytokine-mediated inflammatory response, acting as a 'second hit' to her genetically predisposed condition. Pre-vaccination history included newborn jitteriness, myoclonus, abnormal movements, poor head control, exaggerated startle reflex, developmental delays, and seizures beginning around December 14, 2011. Post-vaccination, seizures increased, followed by continued epileptic encephalopathy, profound developmental delay and regression. Petitioner's experts, including Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne (neurologist), Dr. Richard Boles (geneticist), and Dr. Vera Byers (immunologist), relied on gene-environment interaction and cytokine theories. Respondent's experts, Dr. Gerald Raymond (pediatric neurogeneticist) and Dr. Neil Romberg (pediatric immunologist), argued that L.M.'s clinical course was consistent with the natural progression of SCN8A epileptic encephalopathy and that vaccines were not a cause or aggravator. Special Master Brian H. Corcoran denied entitlement on July 23, 2019, finding no reliable theory of causation and no evidence that L.M.'s decline exceeded the expected course of her SCN8A condition. Petition filed August 7, 2014. Petitioner's attorney: David C. Richards, Christensen & Jensen. Respondent's attorney: Ryan D. Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice. No award.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2014-08-07","case_summary":"On August 7, 2014, Chad McClellan, on behalf of his minor daughter L.M., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The initial claim alleged that the pneumococcal (Prevnar) vaccine administered on December 30, 2011, caused or significantly aggravated L.M.'s seizure disorder. L.M. was born on August 8, 2011. Early in her life, she exhibited neurological concerns, including newborn jitteriness, myoclonus, abnormal involuntary movements, poor head control, an exaggerated startle reflex, and developmental screening delays. She received two-month vaccinations on November 18, 2011, without a documented reaction. By December 2011, L.M. began experiencing seizures. At her four-month checkup on December 30, 2011, her mother reported approximately one seizure per week since December 14, 2011, and worsening developmental concerns. On that date, L.M. received Prevnar, polio, Hib, and diphtheria-tetanus vaccines; the pertussis vaccine was withheld due to her neurological history. The following day, December 31, 2011, L.M. was taken to Primary Children's Medical Center due to increased seizure frequency. She was noted to have decreased tone and poor head control and was started on Keppra. Over the subsequent weeks, she continued to have seizures and experienced developmental regression. Later genetic testing revealed a likely pathogenic variant in the SCN8A gene, leading to a diagnosis of epileptic encephalopathy. The claim was revised to assert that the December 30, 2011 vaccinations significantly aggravated L.M.'s underlying SCN8A-related epileptic encephalopathy. An entitlement hearing was held from September 10-12, 2018. Petitioner's experts included Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, Dr. Richard Boles, and Dr. Vera Byers, who presented theories involving vaccine-triggered immune responses and cytokine production. Respondent's experts, Dr. Gerald Raymond and Dr. Neil Romberg, argued that L.M.'s condition was consistent with the natural progression of her SCN8A genetic mutation and that vaccines did not play a causal role. Special Master Brian H. Corcoran denied entitlement on July 23, 2019. The Special Master found that Petitioner had not presented a reliable medical theory connecting the vaccine to the alleged aggravation and had not shown that L.M.'s post-vaccination decline was worse than what would be expected from her SCN8A condition. The Special Master noted that while the temporal relationship was close and the parents credibly described a deterioration, the evidence did not establish vaccine causation or significant aggravation. No compensation was awarded. Petitioner was represented by David C. Richards of Christensen & Jensen. Respondent was represented by Ryan D. Pyles of the U.S. Department of Justice.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"David C. Richards","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Christensen & Jensen, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Salt Lake City, UT","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|david-richards|","firm_canonical_key":"christensen-and-jensen","package_title":"MCCLELLAN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00714-0","title":"MCCLELLAN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 9/29/2017) Regarding 63 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees, (Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran). 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SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 10/29/2020) regarding 99 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (nh) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-11-17","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}