{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-1","petitioner_identifier":"S.L.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":11.08,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2020-02-01","condition_raw":"autoimmune encephalitis/status epilepticus and death","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":504530,"decision_date":"2025-11-17","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":null,"theory_of_causation":"Influenza vaccine on February 1, 2020, age about 11, followed by autoimmune encephalitis/status epilepticus and death on May 4, 2020. COMPENSATED. Petitioners alleged vaccine-caused autoimmune encephalitis with super-refractory status epilepticus; respondent contested causation. Entitlement was granted August 29, 2025, and damages were awarded November 17, 2025. Award recorded as $504,530. Later public redaction/order documents did not change the injury decision. Death classification controls over cognitive/developmental tagging.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2020-05-04","petition_filed_date":"2020-12-21","case_summary":"On December 21, 2020, Ye Xia, on behalf of her minor child S.L., filed a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Petitioner alleged that an influenza vaccine administered to S.L. on February 1, 2020, caused her to develop autoimmune encephalitis, ultimately leading to her death. S.L., who was eleven years old at the time of vaccination, had no prior medical history. She presented with flu-like symptoms and a fever on February 1, 2020, and received the flu vaccine during that visit. Three days later, her condition worsened, and she was taken to the emergency room exhibiting seizure-like activity, a high fever, and an altered mental state. Extensive testing and treatment followed, with physicians considering various diagnoses including sepsis, meningitis, encephalitis, and autoimmune conditions. Despite numerous treatments, S.L. experienced refractory status epilepticus and was eventually transitioned to comfort care, passing away on May 4, 2020. The death certificate listed \"Super Refractory Status Epilepticus, suspected autoimmune encephalitis\" as the cause of death. Petitioner's expert, Dr. AHM Mahbubul Huq, opined that the flu vaccine, in combination with a possible viral infection, triggered S.L.'s condition through inflammation and immune response, potentially via molecular mimicry. Respondent's experts, Dr. Michael Sweeney and Dr. Hayley Gans, argued that S.L.'s condition was most likely caused by an adenovirus infection, which triggered an inflammatory response leading to Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES), and that the flu vaccine was unlikely to be a significant factor. The court found that while FIRES was the most reasonable clinical description, it did not rule out an autoimmune or vaccine-associated pathogenesis. The court ultimately found entitlement, concluding that the flu vaccine, in the context of S.L.'s existing febrile illness, likely played a substantial role in her disease process, meeting the preponderance of the evidence standard. A damages award of $500,000.00 for pain and suffering ($250,000.00) and the death benefit ($250,000.00), plus $4,530.37 for past medical expenses, was granted. The decision was issued by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Ronald C. Homer","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Conway Homer P.C.; Conway, Homer, P.C.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|","firm_canonical_key":"conway-homer","package_title":"XIA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-0","title":"XIA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 08/29/2025) regarding 90 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ers) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-09-30","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":457121,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-1","title":"XIA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/17/2025) regarding 97 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ers) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-12-17","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":401783,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-cl-extra-11227328","title":"Xia v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10760743","date_issued":"2025-12-17","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Xia v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-cl-extra-11227328"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-2","title":"XIA v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 02/26/2026) regarding 105 Order on Motion to Redact Decision. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ers) Service on parties made. Modified on 4/1/2026 to correct case no. on PDF (tjk).","date_issued":"2026-03-23","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"docketText matches skip keyword 'motion'","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-cl-extra-11281547","title":"Xia v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10814793","date_issued":"2026-03-23","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: Xia v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924/USCOURTS-cofc-1_20-vv-01924-cl-extra-11281547"}]}