{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307-0","petitioner_identifier":"R.C.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"IPV","vaccination_date":"2014-08-19","condition_raw":"febrile seizures","condition_category":"seizure_disorder","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2019-05-28","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:52:41.778517+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner R.C., a minor, received an inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccination on August 19, 2014. The petition alleged that this vaccination caused febrile seizures. The public decision does not describe the specific onset or symptoms of the alleged injury, nor does it detail any diagnostic tests or treatments. The petitioner's counsel, Scott W. Rooney of Nemes, Rooney P.C., moved to dismiss the petition on April 15, 2019, stating an inability to prove entitlement. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, represented by Mallori B. Openchowski of the United States Department of Justice, opposed entitlement, noting that treating physicians did not link the vaccine to the injury and continued administering vaccines. The Secretary also highlighted the lack of a proposed medical theory connecting the vaccine to the injury and the presence of underlying epilepsy as a potential alternative cause. Special Master Christian J. Moran issued the decision on May 28, 2019 (filed April 22, 2019). The Special Master found no evidence of a \"Table Injury\" and insufficient proof that the IPV vaccination \"actually caused\" or \"significantly aggravated\" R.C.'s injuries, citing the absence of a proposed medical theory and lack of support from treating physicians. The case was dismissed for insufficient proof. No specific medical experts were named in the public decision, and the mechanism of causation was not established.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2017-09-22","case_summary":"Erika Colpaert, acting as next friend for her minor child R.C., filed a petition on September 22, 2017, alleging that an inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccination administered on August 19, 2014, caused R.C. to suffer febrile seizures. The petition was filed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. After submitting medical records, the Secretary of Health and Human Services filed a report on July 16, 2018, opposing entitlement. The Secretary noted that R.C.'s treating physicians did not link the vaccinations to the seizures and had continued administering vaccines, including another dose of IPV. The Secretary also pointed out that no medical theory connecting the vaccine to the injury had been proposed and that R.C.'s underlying epilepsy was a potential alternative cause. Following a status conference on July 23, 2018, the parties agreed to proceed to the expert report phase, with R.C.'s expert reports deadline initially set for December 11, 2018. After experiencing difficulty contacting experts, Ms. Colpaert proposed filing reports by February 1, 2019. Subsequently, Ms. Colpaert informed the court that no expert reports would be filed and that the case would be dismissed. On April 15, 2019, Ms. Colpaert formally moved to dismiss the petition, stating that she would be unable to prove entitlement. Special Master Christian J. Moran reviewed the case. To receive compensation, petitioners must prove either a \"Table Injury\" or that the vaccine actually caused or significantly aggravated the injury. The public decision states that the record lacked evidence of a Table injury and insufficient proof that the IPV vaccination actually caused or significantly aggravated R.C.'s injuries, as no medical theory was proposed and treating physicians did not support the claim. Consequently, the case was dismissed for insufficient proof. The decision was signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Scott W. Rooney","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Nemes, Rooney P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Farmington Hills, MI","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|scott-rooney|","firm_canonical_key":"nemes-rooney","package_title":"COLPAERT et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01307-0","title":"COLPAERT et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/22/2019) regarding 45 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. 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