{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874-0","petitioner_identifier":"Jim Bynum","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":74.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"pneumococcal","vaccination_date":"2015-06-26","condition_raw":"vasculitic peripheral neuropathy / lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2024-06-12","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:58:40.563714+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Jim Bynum, age 74, received a pneumococcal vaccine on June 26, 2015. He alleged the vaccine aggravated a pre-existing, undiagnosed Sjögren's syndrome and caused lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Petitioner relied on experts David Younger (neurologist) and G. Clement Dobbins (neurobiologist). Respondent Secretary of Health and Human Services relied on experts Brian Callaghan (neurologist) and Christopher Mecoli (rheumatologist). The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, denied compensation, finding Petitioner failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that he suffered from Sjögren's syndrome, citing the lack of diagnosis by treating physicians and the unpersuasive nature of Dr. Younger's evolving opinions and lack of diagnostic criteria. Petitioner also failed to establish vasculitic peripheral neuropathy or lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy, as treating physicians did not diagnose these conditions and Petitioner's expert opinions lacked persuasive explanations for meeting diagnostic criteria. The decision was issued on June 12, 2024. Attorneys for Petitioner were Milton Clay Ragsdale, IV and Allison Riley; attorney for Respondent was Madelyn Weeks. The theory was off-Table.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-06-20","case_summary":"Jim Bynum, a 74-year-old man, filed a petition on June 20, 2018, alleging that he suffered harm from a pneumococcal vaccine administered on June 26, 2015. He claimed the vaccine aggravated a previously undiagnosed Sjögren's syndrome and caused him to develop lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Mr. Bynum was represented by attorneys Milton Clay Ragsdale, IV and Allison Riley of Ragsdale, LLC. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, was represented by attorney Madelyn Weeks. Special Master Christian J. Moran presided over the case. Mr. Bynum presented expert opinions from neurologist David Younger and neurobiologist G. Clement Dobbins. The Secretary relied on opinions from neurologist Brian Callaghan and rheumatologist Christopher Mecoli. The public decision, issued on June 12, 2024, denied Mr. Bynum's claim for compensation. The Special Master found that Mr. Bynum failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that he suffered from Sjögren's syndrome. This conclusion was based on the lack of a diagnosis from treating physicians, the non-specific nature of the symptoms presented, and the unpersuasive expert opinion of Dr. Younger, whose diagnosis evolved during the litigation and lacked specific diagnostic criteria. The Special Master also found that Mr. Bynum did not establish that he suffered from vasculitic peripheral neuropathy or lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Treating physicians did not diagnose these conditions, and the expert opinions presented by Mr. Bynum were deemed confusing and lacked persuasive explanations for meeting relevant diagnostic criteria. Specifically, Dr. Younger's opinions on these neurological conditions were found to be unclear and inconsistent with diagnostic criteria, while Dr. Callaghan disputed the presence of lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy based on the medical record and diagnostic literature. Consequently, the Special Master concluded that Mr. Bynum did not prove he suffered from any compensable injury linked to the vaccination and denied his claim.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Milton Clay Ragsdale","petitioner_attorney_firm":"IV and Allison Riley, Ragsdale, LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Birmingham, AL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|milton-ragsdale|","firm_canonical_key":"iv-and-allison-riley-ragsdale","package_title":"BYNUM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874-0","title":"BYNUM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/11/2024) regarding 103 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (ceo) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-06-12","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":442608,"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_18-vv-00874/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-00874-1","title":"BYNUM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 02/18/2025) regarding 109 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (jjb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-03-13","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}