{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999-0","petitioner_identifier":"E.K.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"MMR","vaccination_date":"2011-10-21","condition_raw":"fever, roseola, grand mal seizures, and epilepsy","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2016-04-28","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:35:02.837213+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":29,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners alleged that the MMR and varicella vaccines administered on October 21, 2011, caused E.K. to develop a fever, roseola, grand mal seizures, and epilepsy, with onset 29 days after vaccination. The Special Master noted that petitioners' counsel stated E.K.'s pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Champoux-Rhoden, and pediatric neurologist, Dr. Ena Andrews, would not support the allegations. Petitioners did not file an expert report, and E.K.'s medical records did not substantiate the allegations. The Special Master granted petitioners' motion to dismiss for failure to make a prima facie case of causation in fact, citing Althen v. Sec’y of HHS, 418 F.3d 1274 (Fed. Cir. 2005), which requires proof of a medical theory connecting the vaccination and injury, a logical sequence of cause and effect, and a proximate temporal relationship, supported by reputable medical or scientific explanation. The Special Master found that petitioners failed to meet this burden, as mere temporal association is insufficient and the Vaccine Act prohibits ruling for petitioners based on unsubstantiated claims. The case was dismissed by Special Master Laura D. Millman on April 28, 2016. The theory of causation was considered \"Off-Table\" in the provided database fields, and the public decision does not detail a specific medical mechanism or expert testimony supporting the petitioners' claim.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2014-10-16","case_summary":"On October 16, 2014, James and Krista Kuntzelman, individually and as parents and natural guardians of E.K., a minor, filed a petition under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. They alleged that the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella vaccine, administered on October 21, 2011, caused their daughter E.K. to develop a fever of 103.8 degrees, roseola, grand mal seizures, and epilepsy. The petition stated that the onset of fever with seizure occurred 29 days after vaccination. Medical records from E.K.'s pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Champoux-Rhoden, dated November 18, 2011, indicated that E.K. had a fever of 103.4 degrees rectally, was unable to lift her arms, and had a fine macular rash on her torso, leading to a diagnosis of roseola. However, during a telephonic status conference on April 21, 2016, petitioners' counsel informed the Special Master that E.K.'s pediatrician, Dr. Champoux-Rhoden, and her pediatric neurologist, Dr. Ena Andrews, would not support the petitioners' allegations. Consequently, on April 28, 2016, petitioners' counsel advised his clients to move for dismissal, stating that without supporting opinions from E.K.'s treating doctors, and given the presence of roseola and the 29-day interval since vaccination, he did not believe the petitioners could prevail. The petitioners consented to the motion to dismiss. Special Master Laura D. Millman granted the petitioners' oral motion for a decision dismissing their petition, finding that they failed to establish a prima facie case of causation in fact. The case was dismissed on April 28, 2016. The public decision does not describe the specific symptoms of the grand mal seizures or epilepsy, nor does it detail the treatments received for these conditions. The decision also does not name the attorneys for the respondent.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Laura D. Millman","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Daniel J. Leeper","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Leeper & Leeper","petitioner_attorney_location":"St. Petersburg, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|daniel-leeper|","firm_canonical_key":"leeper-and-leeper","package_title":"KUNTZELMAN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999-0","title":"KUNTZELMAN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/28/2016) regarding 24 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-05-20","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":213917,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999/USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_14-vv-00999-1","title":"KUNTZELMAN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/13/2016) regarding 28 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Laura D Millman. (tlf) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-06-03","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}