{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-1","petitioner_identifier":"Sean Sicard","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"HPV","vaccination_date":"2013-03-15","condition_raw":"antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and/or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2021-01-13","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T02:49:09.682334+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":3,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner alleged that his third human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on March 15, 2013, caused him to develop antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and/or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Petitioner's initial expert, Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, posited two mechanisms: Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA), which the Special Master has repeatedly expressed skepticism about, and molecular mimicry. Respondent's experts, Dr. Lindsay Whitton and Dr. Carlos Rose, concluded the condition was unrelated to the vaccine. A new expert, Dr. Thomas Zizic, opined the ailments resulted from a vaccine-induced biologic mechanism leading to autoinflammatory/autoimmune disease. The Special Master noted that the causes of SLE remain unknown and that Dr. Zizic's theory of molecular mimicry lacked substantial evidence linking the HPV vaccine to SLE or other autoimmune diseases. The case was dismissed with prejudice upon petitioner's motion to pursue a third-party action against the manufacturer, rather than on the merits of the claim. Attorneys for Petitioner included Andrew D. Downing. Attorneys for Respondent included Ryan Daniel Pyles. Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued the decision on January 13, 2021.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2016-03-15","case_summary":"On March 15, 2016, Dorothy Sicard filed a petition on behalf of her minor child, Sean Sicard, seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Sean Sicard was later substituted as the petitioner after reaching the age of majority. The petition alleged that the petitioner developed antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and/or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a result of receiving his third human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on March 15, 2013. The petitioner filed medical records and expert reports, including those from Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld and Dr. Thomas Zizic. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, filed expert reports from Dr. Lindsay Whitton and Dr. Carlos Rose, arguing that the petitioner's condition was not related to the vaccine. The case involved multiple expert filings and status conferences. On December 11, 2020, the petitioner filed a motion to dismiss his own petition, stating his desire to pursue a third-party action in district court against the vaccine manufacturer. The Chief Special Master, Brian H. Corcoran, granted the motion on January 13, 2021, dismissing the petition with prejudice. The decision noted that while the petitioner did not concede the claim's lack of merit, the dismissal was granted for judicial efficiency and to allow the petitioner to pursue other legal avenues. No compensation was awarded as the case was dismissed. Petitioner was represented by Andrew D. Downing, and Respondent was represented by Ryan Daniel Pyles.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":"Sean Sicard","petitioner_attorney_name":"Andrew D. Downing","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Van Cott & Talamante","petitioner_attorney_location":"Phoenix, AZ","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":"2026-05-05 23:45:04","attorney_canonical_keys":"|andrew-downing|","firm_canonical_key":"van-cott-and-talamante","package_title":"SICARD v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-0","title":"SICARD v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/4/2019) regarding 79 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (mw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2019-12-02","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-1","title":"SICARD v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 01/13/2021) regarding 96 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (omg) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-03-01","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":331371,"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_16-vv-00332/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-00332-2","title":"SICARD v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/10/2021) regarding 102 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (omg) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-04-07","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}