{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-2","petitioner_identifier":"Walter Thornton","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":27.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza; inactivated polio vaccine (IPV); anthrax","vaccination_date":"2016-09-30","condition_raw":"rhabdomyolysis","condition_category":"rhabdomyolysis","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2026-01-28","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal41","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 23:59:54","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":11,"theory_of_causation":"Influenza vaccine on September 30, 2016, age 27, with IPV on September 12 and anthrax on October 3, followed by rhabdomyolysis on October 11, 2016. DENIED. Petitioner, an active duty Air Force member, relied on Dr. M. Eric Gershwin and treating-physician comments to argue the flu vaccine triggered a pro-inflammatory cytokine response that, with exercise, caused rhabdomyolysis. Respondent's Dr. Carlos Rose and Dr. Peter Donofrio attributed the condition to exertion and rejected the cytokine mechanism. Special Master Moran denied entitlement on September 4, 2025. Judge Molly R. Silfen denied review and affirmed on January 28, 2026; public reissue February 13, 2026 had no redactions.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2018-07-12","case_summary":"Walter Thornton, a 27-year-old active duty Air Force member, filed a petition alleging that a seasonal influenza vaccination administered on September 30, 2016, caused him to develop rhabdomyolysis on October 11, 2016. He also received an inactivated polio vaccine on September 12, 2016, and an anthrax vaccine on October 3, 2016. Mr. Thornton's theory of causation posited that the flu vaccine triggered a pro-inflammatory cytokine response, which, in combination with intense exercise, led to his rhabdomyolysis. He presented expert testimony from Dr. M. Eric Gershwin, who supported this theory, and noted opinions from treating physicians Dr. Shawna Scully and Dr. Erik Ortega, who suggested a possible link between the vaccinations and his condition. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, disputed the claim, presenting expert testimony from Dr. Carlos Rose and Dr. Peter Donofrio. Their opinions concluded that Mr. Thornton's rhabdomyolysis was more likely caused by exertion, not the vaccine, and questioned the proposed cytokine mechanism. The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, denied Mr. Thornton's claim, finding that he failed to establish a sound medical theory connecting the flu vaccine to rhabdomyolysis and did not demonstrate a proximate temporal relationship between the vaccination and the onset of his injury. The Special Master's decision was affirmed on review by Judge Molly R. Silfen, who found it was not arbitrary or capricious. Mr. Thornton was not awarded compensation.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"William E. Cochran, Jr.","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Black McLaren, et al., PC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Memphis, TN","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|william-cochran|","firm_canonical_key":"black-mclaren-jones-ryland-and-griffee","package_title":"THORNTON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-0","title":"THORNTON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/13/2024) regarding 138 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (ceo) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-07-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-cl-extra-10734825","title":"Thornton v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10268235","date_issued":"2024-07-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Thornton v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-cl-extra-10734825"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-1","title":"THORNTON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/04/2025) regarding 143 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (ceo) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-10-03","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":542444,"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-01002/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-2","title":"THORNTON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"JUDGE VACCINE REPORTED OPINION (PUBLIC VERSION) re: 149 Order on Motion for Review, Judge Vaccine Order/Opinion Signed by Judge Molly R. Silfen. (snk) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-02-13","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":347532,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'opinion'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002/USCOURTS-cofc-1_18-vv-01002-2"}]}