{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824-0","petitioner_identifier":"Afton J. Montgomery on behalf of Caden J. Benoit","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":null,"vaccine_type":null,"vaccination_date":"2011-09-08","condition_raw":"mumps, swollen left check with knots, mouth sores, speech delay, developmental delay, otalgia and hearing loss","condition_category":"developmental_delay_regression","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2016-05-16","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:43:51.383900+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":null,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Afton J. Montgomery, on behalf of minor Caden J. Benoit, alleged that Caden developed mumps, swollen left cheek with knots, mouth sores, speech delay, developmental delay, otalgia, and hearing loss following routine childhood vaccinations on September 8, 2011. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof. Petitioner was required to show cause why the case should not be dismissed. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Jacqueline E. Jones, opined that the vaccinations were not linked to Caden's hearing loss. Petitioner stated she had no other legal theories or experts to support a causation claim. The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, found that the petitioner failed to prove either a \"Table Injury\" or that Caden's injuries were actually caused by a vaccination, as required by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. No award was made. The decision was issued on April 25, 2016, and judgment entered May 16, 2016. Petitioner counsel was Craig S. Watson; respondent counsel was Adriana R. Teitel.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2014-09-05","case_summary":"Afton J. Montgomery filed a petition on September 5, 2014, on behalf of her minor son, Caden J. Benoit. The petition alleged that Caden developed mumps, a swollen left cheek with knots, mouth sores, speech delay, developmental delay, otalgia, and hearing loss following routine childhood vaccinations received on September 8, 2011. The case progressed, and on February 26, 2016, the Special Master issued an order for Ms. Montgomery to show cause why the case should not be dismissed. Ms. Montgomery responded on April 21, 2016, stating that she had provided medical records to her expert, Dr. Jacqueline E. Jones. However, Dr. Jones opined that the vaccinations administered to Caden were not linked to his hearing loss. Ms. Montgomery further stated that she had no other legal theories or experts to support a claim that the vaccinations caused Caden's hearing loss. The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, analyzed the case under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. To receive compensation, a petitioner must prove either a \"Table Injury\" or that the injury was actually caused by a vaccine. The public decision does not describe any evidence that Caden suffered a \"Table Injury.\" Therefore, the petitioner was pursuing a causation-in-fact claim. The Act requires that a petition be supported by medical records or the opinion of a competent physician. As the medical records did not support the petitioner's claim, a medical opinion was necessary. However, Ms. Montgomery offered no such opinion. Consequently, Special Master Moran found that Ms. Montgomery failed to demonstrate either a \"Table Injury\" or that Caden's injuries were actually caused by a vaccination. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof. The decision was signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran on April 25, 2016, and entered as judgment on May 16, 2016. Petitioner counsel was Craig S. Watson, and respondent counsel was Adriana R. Teitel.","is_minor_inferred":1,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Craig S. Watson","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Craig S Watson Attorney","petitioner_attorney_location":"Baton Rouge, LA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|craig-watson|","firm_canonical_key":"craig-s-watson-attorney","package_title":"MONTGOMERY et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00824-0","title":"MONTGOMERY et al v. 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